05302024 NEWS AND SPORT

OBITUARIES

DAVIS: END TO

...but doubts over deficit numbers Davis: Public worker pay ‘too low’ $30m to buy International Bazaar Confusion over real estate VAT

LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

THE Free National Movement is underwhelmed and disappointed by Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis’ budget communication, with the party’s leader, Michael Pintard, calling it much worse than last year’s speech. Mr Pintard said Mr Davis

failed to address several key concerns about the future of Bahamas Power and Light, the cost of living and gender-based violence, calling the communication “another set of disappointing and inadequate policy plans”.

Earlier this week, Director of Communications Latrae Rahming said Mr SEE

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis during his 2024 Budget Communication speech in the House of Assembly yesterday.

Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

FNM ‘underwhelmed and disappointed’ over PM’s budget communication

Davis would address “historical challenges and legacy issues” that plague Bahamians and foreshadowed announcements concerning BPL.

However, Mr Davis did not give a detailed update on the future of BPL yesterday, prompting Mr Pintard to say: “We are having a

significant amount of problems concerning BPL and the Prime Minister we thought would have been addressing this issue. How are we going to get reliability in the provision of power?”

“What is his future plan with respect to reducing the amount of rental generation that we have? In a dramatic way, the Davis

administration has increased the amount of money Bahamians are spending on a private company for rental generation.

“And they are losing active use of several of the engines that they found in perfect working order when they came to government. He did not address any of these issues. He talked broadly about a crumbling

infrastructure but, again, laid out no plans in terms of what they would do.

“We believe, as the workers of BPL fear, that the government is engaging or on the path to a privatisation exercise.

“To date, there has been no request for proposal that has been issued and the employees have no real assurance as to who they will be working for.”

“It is clear that we are having a cash crunch with this administration, notwithstanding their boast about revenue, notwithstanding their boasts about how well their revenue enhancement agency is performing,” he said.

“They would have to explain why we are not feeling the impact of what they consider to be ahead of target revenue earnings.”

Mr Pintard said the communication failed to address the “stubbornly high inflation”, adding that the Davis administration is out of touch with how the cost of living impacts the average Bahamian.

Mr Davis said during his speech that inflation has been on a downward path since its peak.

With the country’s murder count at 52, Mr Pintard also criticised the prime minister for not saying more about crime, particularly crimes against children and women.

“This communication did not address what their intentions are, not only to comprehensively address crime in general, but gender-based violence in particular,” he said. He said it is unclear whether the administration has budgeted money for a shelter for women and children as promised.

Mr Pintard did find something positive about the budget, saying some of the customs duty reductions were important because they would benefit the fishing and manufacturing industries. from page one

OPPOSITION Leader Michael Pintard, flanked by members of the opposition, during a press conference following the 2024 Budget Communication yesterday.

Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

Budget increases for 21 govt agencies, including $7m increase for consultancy

By KEILE CAMPBELL kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

CONSULTANCY services fees in the Ministry of Finance will increase by 35 per cent in the next fiscal year. It is not clear what the increase is for.

The budget for the services will grow from $20,175,000 to $27,175,000.

Consultancy fees will also increase by more than $4m in the Ministry of Tourism in the next fiscal year.

Overall, 21 government entities will see budget allocation increases when the new fiscal year begins on July 1.

The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), and the Ministry of Works and Family Island Affairs will see the most increased funding.

OPM will get a budget of

$57.8m, almost $30m more than it received last year.

Subsidies to public corporations, particularly projects related to the development of the Water and Sewerage Corporation, are the basis for the notable increase. That line item was under the Ministry of Works and Family Island Affairs last year.

The OAG budget has increased by $25m. This is mostly to fund the “Court Services Council,” which costs roughly $19.2m.

Three hundred thousand has been budgeted to establish a land registry.

The fund for maintenance and support will almost double, and the cost of wages and salaries will also significantly increase.

Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis noted during his communication that money has been budgeted to create a Judicial and Parliamentary

Authority and for the OAG to improve the operations of the Registrar General’s Department.

He said money had been allocated to settle outstanding legal judgments, including land acquisition matters.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Renewal saw an almost tenfold increase in its allocation, rising from $3.2m last year to $10.8m this budget. The Ministry of Social Services and Information received an almost five-million-dollar increase, from $15.3m the previous year to $19.1m this year.

The Ministry of National Security expects recurrent expenditure to rise from $13.4m to $20m.

This includes a notable increase for Closed Circuit Television, from $2.7m to $7.6m.

Budget increases were also seen for the Ministry

DUTY RATE CHANGES

THE government’s budget communication included a number of additional custom duty reductions in this budget.

The Tariff Act and Customs Regulations will be amended in the following ways: Now duty free sheets

Will be reduced bed linen reduced;

eco-friendly packaging items)

of Agriculture and Marine Resources, the Ministry for Grand Bahama, the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the Ministry of National Security, the Ministry of Energy and Transport, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Education, Technical, and Vocational Training.

In terms of capital expenditures, the Ministry of National Security will see increases from $11.7m to $18.4m; the Ministry of Energy and Transport will see a significant increase from $2.3m to $20m, and the Ministry of Grand Bahama will have its budget increased from $500,000 to $3.5m.

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis during his 2024 Budget Communication speech in the House of Assembly yesterday.

Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

The eProcurement platform has saved govt $16.5m, says Davis

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip

“Brave” Davis said the government had saved $16.5m through its eProcurement platform, GoBonfire.

“We’ve successfully optimised spending and negotiation process,

leading to substantial cost reductions,” Mr Davis said during his budget communication yesterday.

He added that the platform now has 6,277 external vendors, signifying “robust participation and healthy competition in government procurement”.

He said as of May 9, the platform has provided

4,177 total opportunities, “encompassing completed, evaluated, open and archived projects”.

Although he said the platform promotes transparency, the government has yet to fully comply with the Public Procurement Act’s requirement to publish details of approved contracts and procurement activities within 60 days of

awarding a contract.

In its latest human rights report, the United States accused the country of failing to effectively implement laws related to contracts and procurement. The report said the country has limited enforcement of conflict-of-interest and anti-corruption clauses in government contracts.

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Davis administration yesterday tabled legislation that would transform the commercial watercraft industry and allow Bahamians to get the maximum benefit from the nation’s tourism industry. The Commercial Recreational Watercraft (Amendment) Bill 2024, which was tabled by Prime Minister Philip Davis yesterday, requires license holders of jet skis and motorised craft to be Bahamian.

“We are always working to expand Bahamian ownership in our tourism industry,” Mr Davis said.

The new bill also includes new registration fees, with costs ranging between $100 to $960 depending on the vessel’s length. For instance, owners of crafts under 15 feet would have to pay $100, while owners of crafts over 15 feet but under 25 feet would be required to pay $140.

The cost for registering crafts between 25 to 45 feet would be $250 and $500 for crafts over 50 feet but under 100 feet. Meanwhile, owners of 100 feet and over crafts would be required to pay a fee of $960.

Concerning annual registration fees, costs to renew the registration of crafts under 15 feet will be $45, $68 for crafts between 15 to 24 feet; $120 for crafts between 25 to 49 feet; and $240 for crafts between 50 and 99 feet.

Meanwhile, owners of crafts 100 feet and over will be required to pay $480.

The bill also imposes a $100 fee for operators seeking to transfer, duplicate or delete a registration certificate.

The new prices, which take effect July 1st, are an increase from the initial registration fees listed on the government’s website, with costs ranging between $30 to $400.

Meanwhile, inspection fees were between $20 to $80.

INVESTMENT OF $1M NEEDED FOR ECONOMIC PERMANENT RESIDENCE

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE cost of economic permanent residence will change from at least $750,000 in real estate investments to $1m in real estate investments or the purchase of zero coupon bonds from the Central Bank.

“In both cases, the asset must held for a minimum of ten years,” Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis announced yesterday during his budget communication in the House of Assembly. He said the Immigration Act would be amended to clarify that foreigners cannot use a Deed of Gift to apply or qualify for permanent residence.

Mr Davis also said

provisions would be made to deliver passports to residences abroad so residents would no longer have to travel to embassies for the documents. He noted that some travel long distances just to get their passport.

Starting July 1, the cost of an expedited work permit will be 10 per cent of the permit cost.

A visitor stay extension application will be introduced for $200, which would cover a visitor’s card.

Mr Davis also said a Trusted Traveller programme will begin in the new fiscal year for frequent visitors to the country. He said the programme would speed up immigration processing at the border and a fee of $200 would be imposed.

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis during his 2024 Budget Communication speech in the House of Assembly yesterday.

Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

Mixed reactions from Grand Bahama residents on govt proposal to buy the International Bazaar for $30m

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip

“Brave” Davis’ announcement yesterday that the government will spend $30m to acquire the International Bazaar received mixed reactions from business people and residents of Grand Bahama.

Some said it was good news for the Bazaar and Freeport. Others complained about the high price tag and the lack of information concerning the government’s plan for the property.

Free National Movement leader Michael Pintard noted the 427-acre Royal Oasis Resort was purchased in 2007 for $33m and that the Bazaar is only 9.5 acres.

“We don’t understand the math,” he said. “There may be a logical explanation as to why the government is prepared to pay $30m for a fraction of a massive development that was acquired at $33m, but we are very much concerned about their figures, and they were very critical of our administration with respect to the acquisition of the airport and the hotel, yet they are buying the Bazaar at $30m.

Mr Davis said the government expects to source $30m to fund the purchase of the Bazaar and the reopening of the West Sunrise Highway to accommodate projected growth in tourism and economic activity over the next few years.

He said beyond preserv-

ing a significant landmark, the project holds economic potential, as revitalizing the Bazaar could stimulate tourism, create jobs, and generate business activity.

The International Bazaar has 12 owners. The property lost its appeal after the nearby Royal Oasis Resort closed in 2004 when Hurricane Frances and Jeanne caused significant damage. A series of fires destroyed many of the buildings, which were later demolished.

Chris Paine, one of the Bazaar owners, said the prime minister’s announcement is good news.

“We have been in preliminary talks with the local ministry here about the purchase, and I can only say at this point that talks are still a work in progress, nothing has been finalised,” he said. “But I am hopeful at the end of the day, we can find a resolution, and all 12 owners must agree to sell.”

“It has been a horrible eyesore for a number of years now. Anything would be an improvement.”

Businessman Darren Cooper said the prime minister provided no details about the $30m acquisition.

“Our government lacks vision,” he said. “I think there needs to be more clarity about whether this $30m is going to be for the purchase of the old Royal Oasis and the Bazaar.”

“I think the government should lay its full plan out so we can fully understand

what they would be doing.

But to buy the Bazaar and acquire the property to open the road for a handful of Grand Bahamians makes no sense so I disagree.”

Grand Bahama resident

Melvin Cooper said buying the Bazaar is foolish and will only add to the list of other failed properties the government has acquired.

“We are already stuck with Our Lucaya and the airport and can’t do anything with either of them,” he said.

Mr Cooper said rather than investing $30m in a decaying Bazaar property, the money could be used to repair the damaged seawall in High Rock, the government dock in Sweeting’s Cay, schools in East End, and health systems in the settlements.

Freeport resident Erica Roxbury believes buying the Bazaar is a good idea, but $30m is too much.

“The PM’s heart may be in the right place, but when persons are put in positions of power, political favour is what causes good decisions to go sideways,” she said.

“We need persons who can execute and improve on the vision. We are where we are now, not because successive governments didn’t have good ideas to push the country forward but because people just got greedy, and there is absolutely no accountability.

“I think the price could be less, and a part of that budgeted money could be used to build some homeless shelters.”

Road Traffic Amendment to restrict licencing of vehicles with under six months valid insurance

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

INSURANCE policies that are valid for less than six months cannot be used to licence vehicles when amendments to the Road Traffic Act take effect on January 1, 2025.

New provisions would also allow police officers to seize uninsured and unlicensed vehicles and require owners to pay $300 to release their cars.

An amendment bill tabled in the House of Assembly yesterday also said only the police commissioner can release the car once owners provide proof of payment and/or a valid insurance certificate or licence.

The bill also empowers the police commissioner to sell a vehicle that has been seized for more than a year and use the funds to cover

the cost of removing and impounding the vehicle. Yesterday’s bill comes months after top traffic officials called for stricter traffic laws regarding uninsured vehicles, noting that fifty per cent of cars in accidents last year were uninsured.

Most of the uninsured vehicles comprised small, imported vehicles, according to Chief Superintendent of Police David Lockhart, who previously headed the traffic division.

He said some people had been getting temporary cover notes to license their vehicles without completing the insurance process.

Under the amendment bill, new licensing rules would require owners to produce an insurance policy no older than six months.

The bill said the policy “would not be accepted if the policy of insurance expires within six months of the date of application for

licensing the motor vehicle.” Additionally, the bill addresses insurance cancellations, mandating that vehicle owners report this to the controller within five days of the cancellation date.

“The insured person shall at the time of the cancellation surrender the certificate of insurance to the authorised insurer and within five days of the date of cancellation report the cancellation to the controller and provide evidence of the reason for cancellation,” the bill says.

Under the legislation, the authorised insurer must issue a notice of cancellation to the controller within forty-eight hours of the certificate of insurance being cancelled.

Failure to comply could incur a fine not exceeding $2,500 or a three-month prison sentence for the vehicle owner and a fine up to $5,000 for the authorised insurer.

The Tribune Limited

NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI

“Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”

LEON E. H. DUPUCH, Publisher/Editor 1903-1914

SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH, Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972

Contributing Editor 1972-1991

RT HON EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON, C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B.

Publisher/Editor 1972-

Published daily Monday to Friday Shirley & Deveaux Streets, Nassau, Bahamas N3207

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Budget

PICTURE OF THE DAY

short on ‘changing the status quo’

CHANGING the status quo was the big phrase in the Prime Minister’s Budget Communication – so much so that it was the headline when the Office of the Prime Minister posted the speech online later in the day.

If one were to look closely through the details of the speech, however, the status quo is very much what we have.

The budget itself did not have any big game changers – and is largely just a continuation of what the government was doing previously.

That’s not necessarily a negative – if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it – but all the talk of change was not really backed up by the paperwork.

Nothing in the way of tax cuts – or increases, for that matter. No changes to VAT. A few duty changes, but people are hardly likely to be dancing in the streets at the news of duty reductions on laundry detergent sheets and fire extinguishers.

There was nothing definite on the future of BPL, nor was there any clarity on the government’s end goal in its battle with the Grand Bahama Port Authority – although again Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis went on the attack there, saying that the GBPA “has been earning profits at the public’s expense while failing to live up to their responsibility to develop Freeport”.

The government is putting its money – or our money, rather – where its mouth is on that, pledging to buy the International Bazaar, that rundown, faded relic of yesteryear. The price is astonishing, however. $30m seems very high for a property whose

best days number in the decades ago, not just years.

Public sector workers will have pricked up their ears at Mr Davis saying that their salaries are too low. That will be good news for them –though of course every dollar extra that goes to pay workers is a dollar extra on the expenditure side of the equation, so that cost has to be met.

Those looking closely at the deficit figures were rubbing their chins and casting some doubt on how it will all add up.

All told though, it appears to be a budget that is neither a disaster nor a victory parade. The government has set out its path previously, and this keeps us on that course.

If everything goes to plan, the debt to GDP will come down, and the deficit will reduce – though that word “if” carries a lot of weight. Meanwhile, if the government truly wants to change the status quo, then this budget will not do that.

If it wants to carry on the way it has been going – keep the status quo, in fact – then that is what it will do.

There will be lots more to emerge from the budget, and there will be things that will come from the debate afterwards, especially on the future of BPL. Some things right now raise an eyebrow, such as the insurance changes on newly licensed cars, though that might be a quirk rather than anything too onerous.

As ever, the devil is in the detail – and the point of the debate is to light up that detail. Let the discussion begin.

EDITOR, The Tribune. HAVEN’T gone through most of this day’s daily and something got my attention on page nine, under the theme “General election in Britain in July”. What especially was pivotal was the concept of a National Service in Britain that ended in 1960 according to the facts presented from the article. When I read this, I immediately drew a comparison to the same programme being fished out in the Pindling parliament in the early to late seventies, and for which many Bahamians were of the view that concept was a Prime Minister Hon Lynden O Pindling established concept, but wait?

some examples would be working with the police, the National Health Service, supporting flood defences during natural disasters, fire safety, et cetera.

Can such a programme be used in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, as a blueprint, after all, we have challenges emanating right out of this age group?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

OVER the past week two columnists, Alicia Wallace and Peter Young have written about the war in Gaza. Both have commented about a possible ceasefire between the Israelis and the Hamas government in Gaza. They have commented on recognition of a Palestine State as a solution. Most of these observations are wishful thinking. Until such time as the Hamas terrorist group is eliminated and a moderate government takes over in Palestinian areas there will be no peace or progress. Talk of a two state solution may be ideal. However, as long as the Iran-backed terrorists continue to call for the destruction of Israel and the killing of the Jews there is no solution.

most recently with other neighbours has been a step forward for the future. However, this will not end the conflict. Israel has a right to defend itself and to seek the return of the hostages taken by Hamas. God gave the Jewish people their land as well outlined in The Bible.

Never mind the answer, it appeared to have had substance as it was tailored for all 18-year-olds and like unto matters here, the stop, review and cancel-policies of the incoming political party does little to nothing to honour programmesmet-in place, or on the table for consideration. In the stead of the UK, that programme was scrapped, I assume by the political parties blazing the trails from then on, to now. And only reasonably the Conservatives, if elected, have vowed to reinstate it, breaking down these 18-year-olds, service will be either voluntarily in the military for 12 months or to spend one weekend a month in community service, quote, end quote. And

Isn’t it interesting that no matter the religion, race or creed humans have similarities, behavioural traits that were contrary to decent behaviour, civicsa-road-less-travelled, but inherently, one that does weigh quite heavily on all aspects of humanity, infers accountability of humans, this study of the rights and duties of citizens (the latter hardly ever mentioned), but oh boy, the former getting all of the publicity globally, but how so, and why so?

The usual narrative being that you have violated the human rights of this one, that one, this group, that group, basically, what utter garbage, firstly sociology which is the study of humans, society and social behaviour lays it all out the duties that were expected of us humans no matter the social classes. People have account for their actions, period.

Bad behaviour should be awarded the penalties accorded these infractions? No wonder the world is so twisted up, laws were meant to be the glue that holds it together, and God’s world is the ten points plan that justifies it all (which is incontrovertible not able to be denied, or disputed) but, and we would like to be considered public-spirited (willing to do things for the benefit of people in general), and there is a cutoff point where natural law ought to assumed its rightful position, let the chips fall where they may. In conclusion, the Bahamian people must be mindful of these two variables, varying degree opposites, but rival-led nevertheless, a police state, or a criminal state, which would you rather have? Since so many people were refusing to abide by the principles of Sociology, a question that will have to be answered very shortly based on the levels of lawlessness occurring in the land, the trajectory, the paths, or direction the country is on, has essentially replaced, cancelled out the social contract it appeared, I daresay, but how come? Weren’t there supposed to be checks and balances, what has happened to those two towering pillars?

FRANK GILBERT Nassau, May 28, 2024.

Israel has been besieged by hostile neighbours from its inception. Peace treaties with Egypt, Jordan and

RICHARD CW JOHNSON Nassau, May 28, 2024.

EDITOR, The Tribune. ALL Coral Harbour residents, including some Ministers, who he could have consulted and longtime residents will vouch year in year out the pine forest along the Coral Harbour Road catches afire … no Bahamas Apocalyptic Weather event … just an annual event … not only there but along Carmichael.

Oh well, the speech writer is too young - been away from The Bahamas so long forgot, but this statement at an international fora is simply garbage - mistruth - inaccurate and use whatever other adjective to describe when an untruth is spoken. Andros and Abaco infamous for pine forest fires as is Grand Bahama, sorry PM cheap shot not climate apocalyptic just an annual yearly event. Talking about environment - what is more environmental flying schedule airline or charter? Now that’s

A VOLCANO spews lava in Grindavik, Iceland yesterday. A volcano in southwestern Iceland is erupting, spewing red streams of lava in its latest display of nature’s power. A series of earthquakes before the eruption Wednesday triggered the evacuation of the popular Blue Lagoon geothermal spa. The eruption began in the early afternoon north of Grindavik, a coastal town of 3,800 people that was also evacuated.

Photo: Marco di Marco/AP

Davis: Public service workers salaries will be reviewed again

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

EVEN after compensation for public service workers increased by $35m this fiscal year, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said “salaries are too low” in the sector, and the government will perform a salary review to boost wages.

The government has allocated $10m in the Ministry of Finance for this salary review, a new line item in the budget book.

“We believe salaries are too low and that fair compensation is crucial for attracting and retaining the best employees,” Mr Davis said during his budget communication in the House of Assembly. “Therefore, funds have been designated in this budget to conduct and implement a salary review with the aim of increasing the compensation for the entire public service, including accountants, nurses, teachers, defence force officers, police force officers, immigration, corrections and customs officers – all of whom should be adequately compensated for their hard work and dedication.”

Mr Davis noted that recurrent expenditure increased by $35.9m, mostly because compensation for employees increased by $35m, totalling $629m.

“This reflects a higher public sector wage bill, due to various union agreements and employee promotions and classification reforms,” Mr Davis said.

Mr Davis noted that the Ministry of Labour and Public Service facilitated the first public service-wide promotional exercise in over nine years in July 2023, providing an additional $18m for public servants.

“This is separate and apart from our efforts to eliminate the decades-long promotions backlog, which is moving steadily along,” he said.

Although the government negotiated over 27 trade union agreements, increased salaries, and even introduced new benefits for public servants, Mr Davis said more work is still needed to address the low salary challenges in the public sector.

Funding was also allocated to provide training opportunities for public servants through the University of The Bahamas.

“Funding has been allocated for the continuation of training of mid-level and senior public officers through the University of The Bahamas and for the full implementation of the Public Service Scholars

“We believe salaries are too low and that fair compensation is crucial for attracting and retaining the best employees.”

- Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis

Davis speaks during

yesterday.

Programme. Funding has been allocated for a project aimed at enhancing the skill set of individuals within the public service workforce,” Mr Davis said. On Tuesday, the Bahamas Public Service Union protested for a salary review

for more than 200 members who work at the University of The Bahamas. Dozens of members demonstrated outside of UB while expressing their frustration. BPSU president Kimsley Ferguson told reporters the salary review was long overdue.

GOVT SET TO INVEST $12M TO HELP UB GAIN ACCREDITATION

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Davis administration will invest $12m to help the University of The Bahamas gain long-sought accreditations.

The administration will also devote $8m to upgrade the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute.

The total of $20m will be sourced via external funding, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said during his budget communication yesterday.

UB has been seeking various accreditations for years. In January, its acting president, Jayne Hodder, said it was undergoing an audit as it sought accreditation through the National Accreditation and Equivalency Council of the Bahamas, America’s Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the European Union, the United Kingdom and others.

Delinquent financial audits have been one obstacle preventing the college from getting accredited.

In 2015, The Tribune revealed that poor, out-of-date audit practices at the college prevented the institution from accessing funds from a $16.1 Caribbean Development Bank loan designed to upgrade the institution. The loan was eventually abandoned. At the time, the college was at least four years behind in audits, and it had been seven years since an audit for the institution had been last tabled in the House of Assembly.

Last year, UB said it is nearly current with audited financial statements.

“Moving forward, the university will be completing its audits within the normal framework for reporting, which is three to six months after the end of each fiscal year. As we build a strong institution that plays a pivotal role in national development, we continue to benefit from the profound trust and support of our donors,” UB said.

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave”

the budget communication in the House of Assembly

Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

Our grand failures in tourism and heritage

THERE is often considerable debate about the role that the cruise ship industry plays in Bahamian tourism. The debate concerns economic benefits, environmental concerns and other issues.

In previous decades, the leading cruise lines often used an abrasive and arrogant divide and conquer strategy in the Caribbean to advance their interests.

Cruise lines have sometimes polluted our waters with general waste and effluent. Quite a number of commentators have rightly criticised industry players for their economic model and behaviour.

Still, the cruise industry does contribute economically and has a role to play in the overall tourism mix. But they should be playing within the strategic tourism plans of The Bahamas. There should be clear guidelines and limits as to their land footprint, ownership of Bahamian properties, hiring and other policies.

Today, because it is economically more viable and lucrative for cruise lines to conduct Bahamas only cruises, we have a stronger negotiating position, which we have not always used to our greater advantage.

The dredging of Nassau Harbour and the development of the Nassau Cruise Port were necessary and good decisions. However, we failed to dramatically revitalise downtown Nassau in a timely manner to keep pace with these developments.

Businesses seek to maximise profits. The cruise industry is no different. The task of government, including ours, is to ensure that this maximisation is not to the economic and social detriment of The Bahamas.

One of the most spectacularly egregious decisions made in our modern tourism era was granting Royal Caribbean a 17-acre private enclave on Paradise Island, adjacent to downtown Nassau and to the

properties on the iconic Paradise Island. It is Bahamian policymakers, not the executives of the cruise line, who are primarily to blame for this horrendous decision to allow such a property, which will compete with Bahamian entrepreneurs and small business people.

The tragedy is that both major political parties allowed this betrayal of the Bahamian people. It was a poor decision initially made by the FNM. The PLP, who originally opposed it, and who could have stopped it, gave it the greenlight once they were elected. Who and what were responsible for this stunning reversal?

Though she broke Cabinet protocol, Education Minister Glenys Hanna Martin, captured the outrage of many Bahamians at this outlandish decision by successive governments.

There is economic gain in having a certain mix of cruise experiences in The Bahamas, especially in our major population centres of New Providence and Grand Bahama. Nevertheless, we are falling behind in the vital and more lucrative stopover visitors market, even as a number of other destinations appear to be improving.

A leading tourism expert advises that near 100 percent of the growth in

tourism numbers is cruise passengers. This should be a flashing and worrisome red light for The Bahamas.

Hyping the tourism numbers can be misleading, and are often misused and manipulated for propaganda purposes. With the overwhelming growth in cruise passengers, many of whom go to select private cays, we are not close to maximising the potential of tourism.

The failure to revitalise downtown Nassau, the grand mistake of granting a cruise line an enclave on Paradise Island, the insipid decision to create a fake Carnival experience, the failure to enhance and develop experiences like Jumbey Village, and other decisions, constitute a grand failure by a Bahamas which is supposed to be a star of Caribbean tourism.

We will always receive certain numbers of visitors because of our proximity to the United States, our archipelagic treasures, and our spectacular waters and beaches. But policymakers have often abdicated a responsibility to create greater opportunities for more Bahamians to extract more value from tourism in various projects and areas.

The life and vibrancy of The Bahamas is not contained in the destinations of Nassau/Paradise Island and Freeport or solely in the elixirs of sun, sand and sea. We are an archipelago of destinations and an archipelago of varied experiences both natural and cultural, beyond our traditional triple-S tonic offered to visitors.

While colonialist and others painted and portrayed the nation in one-dimensional tropes and postcard-like images, it remains an obligation and opportunity for Bahamians to portray the country in our image and likeness.

The problem may be that many of our leaders still myopically see their own country through jaundiced colonial and imperial lens.

Hence, we still do not have a National Museum or a decent centre for the performing arts to express ourselves culturally, experiences which may also be shared with visitors, such as with the National Art Gallery.

The visitor experience comes in many forms, from visiting an art gallery to small ovoid green pods encasing a shell with a nut inside surrounded by a fleshy yellowish, salmon or orange pulp that may be sweet or sour or a juicy combination of both.

An American friend, who has visited The Bahamas several times, recalls a week gorging on guineps as a highlight of her visit, with the inevitable mouthtwisting sensation from overconsumption.

In her mid-40s, she discovered a new fruit that has become one of her favourites. On her return to the US, she raved to friends about guineps and sapodillas, the kind of word-of-mouth advertising that is golden.

Food communicates so much about a country’s natural and cultural heritage and is often a highlight

of a visitor’s experience.

While eating at Fish Fry, a former acquaintance chatted with a couple visiting from Florida, who keeps returning because they love Bahamian conch salad, conch fritters and Bahama mamas. That afternoon, they rushed to the Fish Fry after a quick check-in at the hotel.

Fish Fry was the brainchild of its Bahamian creators and a sympathetic government and has proven a magnet for tourists. It is the kind of food heritage experience that has helped to diversify and improve our tourism product and the visitor experience.

To accompany Fish Fry, which is ever in need of better maintenance and upgrades, Fort Charlotte and its environs may be transformed into a central park with walking trails, facilities for cultural events, and other features similar to such parks in other international cities.

The central park’s recreational features can extend to the waterfront encompassing an upgraded Arawak Cay and Western Esplanade with its boardwalk. Complementing Fort Charlotte Central Park and Arawak Cay could be a restored Botanical Gardens.

There could also be a well-designed City of Nassau heritage trail from Fort Charlotte Central Park in the west to Potter’s Cay in the east and from Prince George’s Wharf in the north to Bain Town and Grants Town in the south.

There is much that could be done to assist and provide economic platforms for entrepreneurs wishing to showcase Bahamian culinary treats. This was the idea behind the Native Food Market.

Such a market may offer a veritable feast of local fruits in season and food and drink made by small - and medium-sized Bahamian businesses including products such as jams, juices, ice cream, daiquiris, coconut tart, benny cake and other treats.

Tourists would flock to such a market to taste delights they have never before experienced. From gardens and farms to such

a food market, many Bahamians would find jobs and economic opportunities as a part of the ongoing diversification within the tourism industry.

A proposal was made some years ago for the development of a Native Craft Market to showcase the work of Bahamian arts and crafts, yet another economic platform for artists and those producing various crafts.

There are other expressions of Bahamian music and folklore that may be nurtured and developed, including rake ‘n scrape and other sounds various musicians are creating. The late Eugene Dupuch, famously known as “Smokey Joe”, applied a violin bow to the smooth edge of a steel saw, creating its own special sound.

There is all manner of Bahamian rhapsody that is possible. But many in the creative economy and small- to medium-scale entrepreneurs in the tourism industry require more encouragement and tangible assistance from state enterprises.

Critical to the success of Singapore and South Korea was an industrial policy in which certain industries and entrepreneurs were encouraged with capital and technical assistance in order to produce various products and services. This is what a properly run Tourism Development Corporation may help realise.

Instead of the energy and millions which have been spent on a Carnival of dubious economic and cultural value, there could have been more funds better spent to help seed and grow various businesses which may help to diversify our tourism product and services. If we fail to nurture authentic indigenous experiences, we will continue to greenlight and bend or fall over for myriad plastic, inauthentic, fake, highly commodified and spurious projects, which will continue to make us feel and look more and more like a theme park and less like a real country cum destination, with all of our beauty and flaws.

TOURISTS traverse The Nassau Cruise Port on March 12, 2024.

Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

1

My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.

2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.

3

Bind them upon thy fngers, write them upon the table of thine heart.

4 Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:

5

That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which fattereth with her words.

6

For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,

7

And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,

8

Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,

9 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:

10And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.

11(She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:

12Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)

13So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,

14I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.

15Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.

16I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fne linen of Egypt.

17I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

18Come, let us take our fll of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.

19For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:

20He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.

21With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the fattering of her lips she forced him.

22He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;

23Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.

24Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.

25Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.

26For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.

27Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.

As jury mulls his fate, Trump gains some interesting GOP endorsements

CAN we all agree that Michael Cohen is basically just a greedy creep? He and New York City prosecutors want us to believe that he is the prodigal son returned to grace, but has he really seen the light of truth and virtue?

As Donald Trump’s New York trial finally wraps up after weeks of agonising testimony from Cohen and various other greedy creeps and opportunists, the New York City prosecutor’s office appears to be hoping that the jury will agree with the mountain of evidence they have assembled to corroborate Cohen’s damaging testimony that supports the prosecutor’s contention that Trump signed off on payments to a porn star in 2016 to keep her from adding to Trump’s then-growing reputation as a real scoundrel and philanderer.

Trump’s defense team pounded home the accurate notion that Cohen is already a convicted liar and repugnant opportunist who in testifying against the former president is trying to avenge his exclusion from the cushy and powerful White House job as presidential chief of staff that he felt he deserved in 2017 after Trump took over as president.

Maybe Cohen should have held back on his turnabout on Trump. As president, Trump cycled through several chiefs of staff with none lasting too long. Maybe Cohen could have eventually been chosen in all the confusion and mayhem that characterised Trump’s four White House years - if he had kept the faith with Trump.

But the former Trump ‘fixer’ opted to pursue a different path. He probably feels better about himself for having done so – maybe his wife and children do, too. But it is for sure that Cohen has turned irrevocably against his former boss.

Now it will be up to the pitiable jurors to try to find a consensus as to whether to confirm Trump’s guilt on charges of falsifying documents to conceal a ‘hush money’ payment of $130,000 to Stormy Daniels to stifle her revelation of their earlier affair while Melania Trump was

STATESIDE

pregnant with 18-year-old recent high school graduate Barron Trump.

It’s almost impossible to put ourselves in the shoes of those New York City jurors. Whatever their expectations after being selected, they must all have had moments of doubt as to the wisdom of accepting this call to duty.

But as Cohen turns away from his past as a Trump acolyte, it is almost amusing to observe the obsequiousness of so many one-time Trump critics in the Republican Party who have now cravenly – but also very pragmatically – turned away from their past as Trump critics and opponents and embraced his third presidential nomination candidacy.

Among those Republican politicians whose relationship with Trump has been particularly fraught are Nikki Haley and Marco Rubio. Haley actually managed to really surprise and disappoint her many supporters with her not tepid endorsement of Trump this week. This plucky daughter of immigrants who rose in South Carolina to become governor of that deep red state and earn Trump’s appointment as US ambassador to the United Nations, where she performed admirably by many accounts.

To her credit, Haley has always reserved her harshest criticism for incumbent president Joe Biden, even as she for five months continued to attack Trump as

unfit for office and persistently sought to introduce mandatory basic skills testing for presidential candidates as a means of underscoring the advanced age and possibility of senility in both Biden and Trump.

Haley seemed to be genuinely affronted when Trump childishly stage-whispered his concern during the primary campaign about the whereabouts of Haley’s husband, who was deployed overseas as a member of the South Carolina National Guard. Political pragmatism seems to have overcome her disgust as she endorsed Trump.

Of course, she could also have countered with questions about the whereabouts of Trump’s own spouse Melania and daughter Ivanka, both of whom were prominent during his presidency, worked in the White House and reputedly exerted great influence on his presidential decisions.

Neither has played a significant role in the current campaign. Both are supposedly sitting out this election out of concern for their children. But their absence may become a campaign issue in the months to come.

Ivanka is also indirectly involved in the also-curious case of Florida senator Marco Rubio.

This relatively young Cuban-American legislator, who just celebrated his 53rd birthday, was re-elected to his third term as US Senator two years ago. In the run-up to that election, Trump and his entourage began spreading rumours that Ivanka Trump might just run for Rubio’s Senate seat. Ivanka never actively encouraged that rumour, but it properly put a scare into Florida’s political establishment.

When Rubio had opposed Trump in the 2016 presidential primaries, many mainstream Republicans initially supported his candidacy enthusiastically. Young and with a compelling personal narrative, Rubio seemed to represent aspirational Republican values uniquely well among a dispiriting cast of characters in that fateful primary season.

He memorably got into an unseemly verbal spat with Trump in one debate that centred around various parts of the candidates’ respective anatomies, and Rubio learned that when it comes to mud-slinging, slander and outright mendacity, no one can stand up against brilliant demagogue Trump.

(Joe Biden, incidentally, should be very wary as his first debate with Trump looms in just four weeks’ time).

Rubio became a fairly

quick afterthought, and slipped off the national stage to contest his Senate seat that year, after declaring earlier that he would under no circumstances do that. In red Florida, the former state legislature speaker got away with this political sleight of hand.

Now Rubio is reportedly actively seeking Trump’s nomination as his vicepresidential running mate. Is Rubio serious about this? Who knows? But he’s pandering for it along with many others. And he still looks good as a Republican candidate on the national stage. His wife is a beautiful Miami-born former cheerleader and mother of their four children. The family regularly attends both Roman Catholic Mass at the Church of the Little Flower - and Protestant worship services at an Evangelical megachurch aligned with the Southern Baptist Convention.

Ms Rubio hosts a weekly Bible study class in her home. Her three younger children attend a private Protestant Christian school, while the eldest attends a Catholic high school.

The family’s Christ Fellowship protestant church is a nondenominational evangelical multi-site megachurch based in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida with more than 28,000 in attendance each week on eleven locations throughout South Florida.

Does all this remind you of the conservative, ardently religious credentials that so commended previous vice-president Mike Pence to Trump when he was previously auditioning candidates as his running mate?

Trump, perhaps now more than ever, really needs a reliably religious running mate in the aftermath of all the amoral nastiness that has leaked out like so much

toxic sludge during testimony in his New York hush money trial.

It may be that the part of Trump’s Make America Great Again coalition of the disaffected and disillusioned that is most at risk of defecting or sitting out the November election is precisely the evangelical Christian right that has held its collective nose and looked the other way for eight years with Trump as he has defiled political, moral and ethical convention in so many ways.

But when it comes to defying political convention, Trump is the all-time, undisputed master. If he were to choose another Florida resident as his running mate, wouldn’t that go counter to all sorts of conventional wisdom?

That might just be part of the appeal to Trump for such a move.

And anyhow, why not solidify support in the nation’s third most populous state that, with Texas, is the biggest one that any Republican candidate has any realistic chance of winning this year? (California and New York are almost always off the table for the GOP in general election years, including this one.) Such a calculus would come as bad news for other Trump V-P contenders such as the governors of both North and South Dakota, a previously unremarkable upper New York state congresswoman, a previously unknown tech entrepreneur with a political line almost identical to Trump’s own, a black South Carolina senator who would be unlikely to sway many AfricanAmerican votes, and others who will probably emerge from the wings of the political stage.

It’s not an especially distinguished group from which Trump to choose. Rubio stands out.

with Charlie Harper

NIKKI HAYLEY

FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP

FLORIDA SENATOR MARCO RUBIO

Haiti’s new Prime Minister promises to bring unity

then Prime Minister Garry Conille speaks with journalists after a press conference in Port-au-Prince, Oct. 6, 2011. Conille was named Haiti’s new prime minister, Tuesday.

Photo: Dieu Nalio Chery/AP

SAN JUAN Associated Press

HAITI’S newly chosen Prime Minister Garry Conille vowed to seek unity Wednesday in his first statement since a transitional council selected him to head the government in the troubled Caribbean country under siege by criminal gangs.

Conille thanked the civil society groups, political parties and members of the Haitian diaspora who proposed him as a candidate, saying he was “very honored” to have been chosen.

“Together, we will work for a better tomorrow for all the children of our nation,” he wrote on X, the social media platform, in Haitian Creole.

Conille submitted his resignation Tuesday as UNICEF’s regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean, a post he has held since January 2023. He previously served as prime minister of Haiti from October 2011 to May 2012 under then-President Michel Martelly and was former chief of staff to Bill Clinton in the ex-president’s role as U.N. special envoy to Haiti.

Conille studied medicine and public health and helped develop health care in impoverished communities in Haiti, where he helped coordinate reconstruction efforts after the devastating 2010 earthquake. He also served as a U.N. development specialist before becoming a regional director with UNICEF.

He now faces a monumental task, with Haiti under siege by gangs that control at least 80% of the Port-au-Prince capital as the country awaits the U.N.-backed deployment of a police force from Kenya and other countries supporting the mission.

The prime minister shares executive power with the presidency, which has been vacant in Haiti since the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. whose death left a power vacuum that criminal gangs began to take advantage of later that year.

In addition to choosing the prime minister, the transitional council is tasked with arranging presidential elections before early 2026.

Council members told The Associated Press late Tuesday that six of seven members with voting powers had selected Conille for the prime minister role. Laurent St. Cyr, the seventh member, is not in Haiti currently and as a result did not vote.

On Wednesday, they issued a statement noting that Conille was one of five prequalified candidates that they interviewed for one hour each on Tuesday, and that they are now working with him to choose a new Cabinet.

“The transitional presidential council renews its firm determination to do everything possible to stem the phenomenon of insecurity and lead the country on the path to free, fair, democratic and inclusive elections,” it said.

Conille will replace interim Prime Minister Michel Patrick Boisvert, who has been helping lead the country since former Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigned via letter in April following a surge in gang violence. Gunmen launched coordinated attacks on Feb. 29, seizing control of police stations, opening fire on the main international airport that remained closed for nearly three months and storming Haiti’s two biggest prisons, releasing more than 4,000 inmates. The wave of violence continues.

Boivert issued a statement Wednesday congratulating Conille, adding that he “hopes the new prime minister will be able to face the challenges and issues of the moment.”

Also congratulating Conille was Kenyan President William Ruto, who wrote on X Wednesday that “this significant step is not lost on the world.” He added that Kenya was looking forward to working with Conille and his government “to restore Haiti to a path of sustainable development.”

It was not immediately clear if there would be a formal swearing-in ceremony for Conille.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said in a statement that she wished Conille “every success in bringing muchneeded peace, stability and hope to the children of Haiti.”

Conille was not the first choice for some council members.

In late April, a fourmember coalition within the council made an unexpected announcement that they had chosen former sports minister Fritz Bélizaire as prime minister. The move threatened to fracture the council, with dissenting members insisting that proper procedure be followed.

As a result, the council announced it would accept nominations for prime minister, and it received dozens

of names. However, none of them was made public, and the council has been criticized for its lack of transparency, including not sharing what criteria it was applying when choosing a leader.

The council also is tasked with choosing a new Cabinet and appointing a provisional electoral commission, a requirement before elections can take place. The council’s nonrenewable mandate expires Feb. 7, 2026, when a new president is scheduled to be sworn in.

Pintard endorsed by former FNM MPs Grant and Russell

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribumemedia.net

TWO ex-Cabinet ministers from Grand Bahama have declared their support for Michael Pintard ahead of the upcoming FNM leadership race, saying he can take the party to the next level.

After their long absence from the FNM, Kenneth Russell and Neko Grant have returned to the party, confident that under Mr Pintard’s leadership, the party could win the next general election.

The party will hold a one-day convention on June 1 to elect a leader and national party officers. Mr Pintard and former prime minister Dr Hubert Minnis have been nominated for the leadership.

“I believe Mr Pintard represents a different generation from ours,” Mr Russell said. “He has consistently been someone with good ideas, who presents himself eloquently and understands the importance of valuing everyone’s opinion. He is a good man for the FNM and the nation.”

Mr Grant said: “There is no question, I support Mr Pintard. He has what it takes to take the party to the next level.”

“Minnis has been a complete failure, in my opinion, and the whole country knows how I

feel about that since December 2016, and The Bahamas vindicated us in September of 2021.”

Mr Grant was among the seven FNM parliamentarians who removed Dr Minnis as leader of the official opposition in 2016.

Mr Russell and Mr Grant said the most urgent issue in Grand Bahama is the conflict between the Davis administration and the Grand Bahama Port Authority.

Mr Russell said the government should focus on developing East and West Grand Bahama.

He accused the administration of playing a game to try and gain the support of Grand Bahamian residents.

“The people realise one thing in GB: when you compare Freeport with East and West, there is no comparison,” he said. “Why would I be interested in a government taking control of Freeport? I wish the government would stop this fight and allow the Port to do what it is supposed to do instead of causing this fight and discouraging investors. That is what needs to happen.”

Mr Grant added: “The situation with the Port Authority and government needs to be addressed. I think the way it is being handled is not good for Grand Bahama, Freeport, and the country.”

HAITI’s

Funeral Services for

GERALD DILLON DORSETT SR., 57

a resident of Hawthorn Road, Oakes Field, will be held at Church of Jesus Christ, Pinewood Gardens, on Saturday, June 1, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. Officiating will be Bishop Clifford McIntosh, assisted by other Ministers of the Gospel. Interment follows in Southern Cemetery, Cowpen & Spikenard Roads.

He is survived by, Mother: Gloria Dorsett. Wife: Christine Dorsett. Son: Gerald Dorsett Jr.; Daughter: Taina Dorsett. StepSon: Errold Arnette. Step-daughters: Tanzar Mackey and Melvern Arnette. Grand Daughter: Genuine Dorsett. Special Friend: Tiesha. Brothers: Leroy Carey, Allan Jr., Mario, Sean & Enlico Dorsett. Sisters: Cintiest Dorsett, Lorette Dorsett-Smith, Sharmaine Sturrup, Lasheit Wilson, Cpl. 3377 Latoya Higgs & Samantha Dorsett. Brother-inlaw: Joseph Sturrup and Dwayne Ferguson. Sister-in-law: Larna and Sherell Dorsett. Nephews: Valentino, Allan III, Mario Jr., Ricardo, Dario, and Alex Dorsett, Jermaine, Dario, Christian and Christopher Carey, Cicero and Saurez Henriquez, John Taylor Jr. and Joshua Sturrup, Deangelo, Codero, and Aurthur Carey, Cowen, Torie, and Owen Jr. Higgs, John Wilson Jenson Ferguson, and Drexel Dean. Nieces: Lisa Dorsette-Cesar, Latoya Carey, Tonique Farrington, Francheska Cleare, Lafran Smith, Francine McIntosh, Sheena Seymour, Marissa, Ocara, Devanna, Alijah, Gloria, Macy, Sanai, and Cherish Dorsett, Sherell Teah, Patrell Defoe, Gwenith, Tera, Sharonique, Zanya, Ashanti, April, and Opal Carey, WPC4085 Shaeateka Deleveaux, Johnette, Jonae, Johnnevan, Enlica Deveaux. Nieces-inlaw: Tina Carey and Shanteshia Dorsett. Nephews-in-law: Lamont Smith and Samson Cleare, Robert Cesar, Devanteo McIntosh. Grand Nephews: Breez and Zakai Henriquez, Samson Jr. and Psalms Cleare, Carter Cesar, Christopher and Dario Jr. Carey, Leroy Desouza, Nelson and Nathan Teah. Grand Nieces: Kiesha Middleton, Aliah Rolle, Carrington, Jewel, and Sasha Carey, Kanaya and Vantesia Dorsett, Demi McIntosh, Everonique Dezesor, Deisha, Destiny, and Dallas Defoe, Nwlah Teah, Janai Taylor, Halo Cartwright. Uncles: Hayward and Zechariah Dorsett, Prince, and Eliston Bain, Sterling, Pedro, Keith Poitier and Andrew Boniby. Aunts: Una Marshall, Carmetta Russell, Paulette Poitier-Newton, Cleta Poitier, Rena Boniby, Porsha, and Myrtle Poiter. A host of other special relatives, friends, and family members:Marilyn and Jaden, Jennifer Pete, Retta Turner, Amelia Marshall, Denise and Yvette Dorsett, Eliston Bain Jr., Kenrito Anderson, Anwar Symonette, David, Mark Stubbs, Pedro Newbold, Charltoneka Johnson, Magaret Simmons, Keva Lockhart, Camille McPherson, Debbie and Family, The Davis Family, Nyoka and Family, Tracie and Family, Mr. Oscar and Family, The Hamilton Family, Gwendolyn Dawkins and Family, The Church of Jesus Christ Faith of The Apostles Inc. Family, Mountaintop Church of Jesus Christ Family and a host of other special relatives, friends, and family members too numerous to mention.

Friends may pay their last respects at Demeritte’s Funeral Home, Market Street, from 10-6:00 p.m. on Friday & on Saturday at the church from 10:00 a.m. until service time.

MATRIARCH MINISTER HAZEL MAE PINDER, 87 (Mother Pinder)

a resident of Spencer Ct., Soldier Road, & formerly of Millars, Long Island, will be held at Southwest Cathedral, Carmichael Road, on Saturday, June 1, 2024 at 11:00 a.m.

Officiating will be Bishop Kemuel Gardiner, assisted by Bishop Charles Gardiner. Interment follows in Western Cemetery, Nassau Street.

She is predeceased by her parents: Cecil & Maria Kenny, husband Bishop Harcourt M. Pinder, sisters Annette and Julie Kenny, daughters Faye Major and Renee Pinder and granddaughters Deidra Major and Chandia Saunders.

Left to celebrate the life of this remarkable servant Woman of God: Daughters: Deyanne Pinder, Bonnie Anderson (godchild). Sons: Wilton, Derwin, Barry, Harlan & Hazon Pinder. Son-in-law: David Major. Daughters-in-law: Karlene & Shereen Pinder. Adopted Son: Bishop Sanford Rolle. Adopted Daughters: Betty Hanna, Rosemary Campbell, Barbara Pettigrew, Kayla Humes and Rev. Denise Rolle. Spiritual Children: Dr. Charles (Deborah) Johnson, Bishop Charles (Patrice) Gardiner, Dr. James (Rev. Eileen) Johnson, Bishop Harvey (Min. Lelia) Cash. Sisters: Coraline Newton of West Palm Beach, Rev. Patricia Smith, Delores M. Edwards, Minister Lorraine Arthur, Cheryl Kenny and Diane C. Duncombe. Brothers-in-law: Stanley Pinder, Rev. Howard T.Smith, Garth Duncombe, Wilfred Arthur of Turks and Caicos. Sisters-in-law: Sybil Gwendolyn Pinder, Naomi Pinder, Pastor Daisy Miller, Althea Miller (deceased), and Jennie Butler (deceased) of Hollywood, Florida. Spiritual Siblings: Bishop Donnie and Jenniemae Storr, Bishop Revy and Bernice Francis. Grandchildren: Nicole Rolle, Shantivia Bonamy, Wilanekah, Keshon, Tahir and Kaleeyse Pinder. Sharelle (Kristone) Rodgers, Barisha (Nicholas) Taylor, Heleshia (Valentino) McIntosh, Shontell (Sonny) Augustine, Brittany PinderJohnson and Baranda Pinder, Dava and David Major Jr., Shaniece (Nartey) Sackey, Justin and Jordan (Lauren) Pinder, McGuire Pinder. Great-grandchildren: Maya & Jadeh Rolle, Shanteria Bonamy, John Thompson Jr., Messiah Luberisse, Angelo Jr. and Ajani Saunders, Zoe, Zahara and Zahir Rodgers, Sky and Takai Taylor, Sonaj Augustine,

Kae’son Pinder, Valeah McIntosh, Amai Pinder, DeShawn Pinder, and LeRoy Simmons III. Great great grandchild: Shanel Baker. God children: Bishop Kemuel Gardiner, Philip McPhee, Wilfred Hart, Anthony( Tony) Bartlett, John Wesley Neely, Kimberlina Saunders, Carla Pratt, Jennifer Green.(Others too numerous to mention). Nieces: Macqua Woodside of West Palm, Beach Florida, Stacey Philips of Covington Georgia, Tina Hepburn, Shandia Smith, Jerah EdwardsGibson, Angea Whyms, Tammy Morley-Archer, Bunnicea Rolle, Tia Duncombe-Forbes and Gardenia Duncombe, Karen Palacious, Stephanie Brice, Verdell Ferguson, Sharon, Vanessa, Oramae, Latoya, Cherry Lee, Pauline, Patrice Pinder, Earlene Cartwright, Ann, Yvonne and Patricia Mae Miller, Yvonne Butler, Jacquelyn Brown and Jasmine Davis. Nephews: lan Smith of Washington D.C, Brent Edwards, Neil Edwards of California, Andrew and Paul Arthur, Rashard Penn, Able Seaman Dasmend Bowe, Tokoyo and Travis Duncombe, Glenard Holmes, Chephas, Enoch, Ishmeal and Simeon Miller, Kelsey, Glen, Stanley Jr. Rupert, Levi Jr. Roland,and Ron Pinder. Nephews-in-law: Kevin C. Cartwright, Samuel Kevin Philips of Covington,Georgia, Jermaine Hepburn and Kahdaff Whyms. Nieces-inlaw: Shamon Edwards, Jennifer Edwards of California, Justina Arthur, Thea Bowe, Crystal Penn and Shaniqua Holmes. Grand Nieces & Nephews: Nigel and Nyia Howard, and Juwan Fraizier of West Palm Beach, Florida, Samuel K. Philips Jr., Amber, Tayler and Tyler Hannah and Leah Phillips of Covington, Georgia. Jermaine Jr., Jada and Jasmine Hepburn, Jordan Smith, Brentan and Breyan Edwards, Tyrique and Tyiesha Rodgers, Taijah Edgecoombe, Keisha Abigail, Allyson and Taylor Edwards, J’Lahr and J’elle Gibson, Paul Jr. Zaria and Zanae Arthur, Dominic Archer II and Daniel Archer, Dianna, Emma and Emelia Penn and Seth Forbes. Special Cousins and friends: The Huyler family (Gambier), The Charlow and Miller family, (Long Island), Ethel Butler, Peggy Bethel, Deac. Berthamae Ferguson, Rev. Clarence Musgrove & family, Sis. Menencha Clarke and family, Mackeal Rolle, Dr. Jenniemae Humes, Sis. Nellie Brooks & family, Deaconesses: Heslyn Fernander, Yvonne Gardiner, Lilymae Duncombe, Lilymae Forbes, Sis. Verna Gilbert & family and Sis. Buelah Arnett. Other relatives and friends: The Bevans family, The Moss family, Jeannie Johnson, Sis. Bernard, Norma Deane, Catherine Willimson & family, Earlene Bastian, Mr. Burrows, Bishop Moses and Cynthia Johnson, Bishop Cartlon and Minister Genesta Stuart and the East Street Cathedral Church of God family, Arch-Bishop Ross and Pastor Althea Davis, Bishop. V. G. and Elder Beverly Clarke, Rev. Dr. Hilda Symonette, Bishop Victor and Rev. Jackie Johnson, Bishop Carlton and Rev. Rudy Adderley, Merril Adderley, Mother Rowena Cooper & family, Mrs. Rosie Miller of Long Island, Bishop Jauvante Cooper of Exuma, Bishop Arnold and Elder Vernita Josey, Pastor Dean & Genevieve Wells, Rev. Clover Pratt and family, The Blair family of Jamaica, Esther Leonard and family, Betty West, Hon. Picewell Forbes, Louise Adderley, Judy Munroe & Family, Minister Jacob and Ilka McPhee, Georgeann Farquharson and Velma Clarke. Vylma B Thompson-Curling, Min. Glenys Hanna Martin, Jack Thompson P.S., Pastor Lyall Bethel Sr. Pastor & Grace Community Church family, Principals, Mr. Jullian Rolle, Mrs. Gibson Taylor and staff of North Long Island Sr. High School/Simms Primary School, Long Island, H & H Family Discount customers, Long Island, Bahamas Association of Ministers’ Wives & Ministers’ Widows, The C.O.G National Widow’s Ministry, The Bahamas Mothers Club,The East Street Cathedral Church Reunion Choir, Church of God The Bight Long Island and Church of God Bahamas. The Doctors Nurses and staff of Simms Clinic, Long Island and PMH Private Surgical staff, Dr. Darbrielle Hunt-Burrows. Dr. Daniel & James Johnson and Dr. Mcquire Pinder, grandson.

Friends may pay their last respects at Demeritte’s Funeral Home, Market Street, from 10-6:00 p.m. on Friday & on Saturday at the church from 10:00 a.m. until service time.

THERESE ADDERLEY, 57

a resident of Lady Slipper Avenue, Garden Hills, will be held at New Covenant Baptist Church, East West Highway, on Saturday, June 1, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. Officiating will be The Reverend Trajean Jadorette, assisted by other Ministers of the Gospel. Interment follows in Lakeview Memorial Gardens, John F. Kennedy Drive.

Left to cherish her memories are her, Daughters: Samantha AdderleyGibson, Sylvana Adderley, Crystal Adderley and Margo Adderley; Son: Henry Adderley Jr.; Step daughter: Sabrina Adderley; Sonin-Law: Alexander Gibson Sr.; Grandchildren: Romel Russell Jr., Alexander Gibson Jr., Themeye Russell, Lashanteh Saunders Jr., Michaela Adderley, Alexandria Gibson, Khaleel Archer Jr., Marinique Hepburn, Donghue Malone, lan Goodman, Makayla Goodman, Van Jr. and Vandesha Adderley; Sisters: Roselda Clarke, Maria Walkine, Patricia Clarke, Diana Dean, Portia Hanna, Dr.Vienna, Sharon and Miriam Clarke; Brothers: Leslie Clarke and Micheal; Brother-in-Law: Selwyn Dean, Robert Walkine, James Hanna, Kenneth Smith, David Adderley Jr. and Patrick Ferguson; Sister-in-Law: Portia Small, Nellie Thompson, Beverly Armbrister, Sonia Smith, Priscilla Armbrister and Penny Ferguson; Nieces & Nephew: Dedrie, Giana, Kelsey, Stephanie, Marvin, Utia, Lincoln, Earl, Carmie, Keno Sr., Philip, Kendal, Selwyn Jr., Shivargo, Shaquille, Shacorya, Gina and Ashley; Grandnieces & Nephew: Keno Jr., Kelsey, Meagan, Tiara, Shawnique, Cameron, T’Ron, Tyrique, Keano and Serayah. Special Friends: Basil Christie, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. King, Euice Grant, Carolyn Knowles, Donell Knowles and Deshone Johnson and Family. Other Loving Family and Friends including: Margot, Monique, Nurse Knowles, Lashan, Edwards, Fanny Delphine, Staff at P.M.H. and Garden Hills #2 Community.

Friends may pay their last respects at Demeritte’s Funeral Home, Market Street, from 10-6:00 p.m. on Friday & on Saturday at the church from 9:00 a.m. until service time.

Funeral Services for

MARIA LOUISE ROBERTS, 66

a resident of Australia Ave., Elizabeth Estates, will be held at The Church of God Temple, Coconut Grove, on Saturday, June 1, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. Officiating will be Rev. Dr. Roslyn Astwood, assisted by Elder Burcil Anderson & other Ministers of the Gospel. Interment follows in Woodlawn Gardens, Soldier Road. Maria Roberts was predeceased by her father: Kendal Alphonzo Pinder; and her husband Vincent Roberts. Left to cherish her memories are, Mother: Nellie McDonald Clarke. Daughters: Makera Roberts and Mariama Brown. Son: Marvin Roberts. Son-in-law: Dwight Brown. Grandson: Dmair Brown. Adopted son: Dominick Rolle. Sisters: Janice Campbell, Ellen Thompson, Persis Pinder, Kenetta Pinder Hudson and Elder Jennise McKenzie. Aunts: Beryl Lloyd and Williamina Thurston. Uncle: George Mackey. Brothers-in-law: Philip Stubbs and Sidney McKenzie. Nephews: Valentino Ferguson, Tekio King, Edward Thompson JR, Craven and Marco Longsworth, Dr. Lloyd Stubbs, Sid McKenzie, Henry Bain, Marlon Sargent, Raynaldo, Raynon, Ray Hudson, Shilo Hunt, Troy and Travan Haughton. Nieces: Janiqua and Jaqulia Jennings, Lakeisha Thompson-Rolle, Takoya, Akehia, and Travina Thompson, Dovis Bain, Sharlee’ Sargent, Philippa, Bridgid and Melanie Stubbs, Kendra Roberts, Marlene Wilson, Sherese & Kerry Longsworth, Sarah Hudson, Winnifred Cox and Aquila Robinson. Grandnephews: Raymond Adderley Jr., Jason, Tekio King Jr., Valentino Jr., Alexander and Elvardo Ferguson, Christonio Jennings, Jaylen Wilson, Anwar and Reberto Monroe, Renaldo Hanna, Gary and Garron Smith, Craven Jr. and Davantai Longsworth, Randy Roberts, and Tristen Hepburn. Grandnieces: Valeria, Valencia, Lyntoya, Lyntesha, Lyntina, and Lyntia Ferguson Angelise Stubbs, Gariniece Mackey, Danika Nairn, Aaliyah King, Javara Smith, Javanya Smith, Jaianalese Sears, Lataz’yah Thompson, Lakeicia Lewis, Lanjea Rolle, Erica, Ellenes and Shametria Monroe, Glendera and Indera Hanna, Henricka and Dovette Bain, Dr. Katavia Balfour, Ashara Longsworth, Fredericka, Maddison and Brooklyn Stubbs. Great Grandnephews: Latario, Jourdon and Alexio Hanna, Harold Mackey, Javon Cleare, Nariko Farrington, and Craven Longsworth III. Great Grandnieces: Keva Dean and Jasmine Hanna. Cousins: Rochelle, Kimberly, Portia, and Dwayne Thurston, Renee Lloyd-Lockhart, Ursula Lloyd-Rolle, Ereka Lloyd-Moxey, Shaneene Lloyd-Forbes, Nevon, Drexel, Prescott, and Alex Lloyd, Selwyn, Selwyn Jr., Michael, Gary, and Angela Mackey. Other relatives and friends: Eulamae Smith and family, Linda Brown and family, Paula Rodriquez and family, Nicara Johnson and family, Khadeshia Burrows and family, Vanessa Perigord and family, Philip Greenslade and family, Maxine Wilson and family, Minister Verdell Pinder and family, Christina Sargent and family, Rev. Dr. Roslyn Astwood and family, Elder Burcil Anderson and family, Rev. Sherman Stevens and family, Bishop Rodolph and Pastor Linda Balfour and family, Pastor Marie McDonald and Family, Pastor Dwayne Josey and family, Bishop Stanley Ferguson and family, Rev. St. Stephen’s Baptist Church family, Tamika Neely and family, Sandilands Rehabilitation Center staff, R.M. Bailey High School Alumni Association, Yamacraw PLP community, and other relatives and friends.

Friends may pay their last respects at Demeritte’s Funeral Home, Market Street, from 10-6:00 p.m. on Friday & on Saturday at the church from 10:00 a.m. until service time.

(Eleuthera) ALBAN SHADDEN JOHNSON, 74

a resident of Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera, will be held at St. Patrick Anglican Church, Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera, on Saturday, June 1, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. Officiating will be Rev’d Willish Johnson. Interment follows in Governor’s Harbour Public Cemetery, Eleuthera.

Left to mourn are his, Wife: Pauline Johnson; Sons: Clifton (Michelle) Johnson, Alban Medico (Angelica) Johnson and Angel Johnson. Daughters: Candola Johnson and Shonique Kelly. Adopted Daughter: Felica Hilton. Grand children: Coeshia, Paris, Covanna, Mya, Angelo, Akio, Angel, Ashawn, Ashton and Precious Johnson, Donovan Farrington, Alijah Butler and Alicia Culmer. Great Grandchild: Amari Culmer. Sister: Minna Lucas. God son: Elgin Johnson. Nieces: Millie Johnson, Ruth Sands, Nancy Bethel, Monalisa Pinder, and Appolonia Bodie. Nephews: McField, Troy, Quinton and Roberto Johnson, Shawn Ingraham and Joseph, Arnold and Charles Johnson. Stepsons: Micah and Alphonso Valdes. Mother-in-law: Idalia Carty. Sisters-inlaw: Madeline (Charles) Sheri, Josiane (Lionel) Floreus. Brother-inlaw: Jean Remy (Merita) Metayer and Ricardo (Taylor) Carty. Close Relatives and Their Families: Lawrence, Everette, Glen, Kirk Griffen and their families, Ruth Griffin, Gretchan Boodle, Alfreda Edwards, Sheila Archer, Joann Behagg, Sarah Hammond, and George Petty Sr. and their Families; Janet Davis-Burrows, Dale Davis-Hepburn, Pattie Davis-Hepburn, Carol Davis-Wood, Dorothy Davis–Jones, Kathy and Jerome Davis; Jamie, Jeremy, Jefferey and Jetson Bethel, Gerald, Gerrad and George Petty Jr. and Gerrina Cunningham, Hartie Johnson and family, Hilton Johnson and family, and Julia Bethel and family. Other Relatives and Friends: Demetrius (Deshon)

Johnson, Arthur (Kayla) Bethel, Windsor Bethel Sr., Samuel Pinder Jr., Pat Demeritte and Family, Beulha Petty and family, Pastor Philip Petty and Family, Mark Thompson and family, Paul Simmons and Family, Agnes Bethel, and family, Richard (Madeline) Rolle, Byron Rolle and Family, Teddy Petty, Felicia Bethel, Paula Bethel and family, Stephanie Bethel and Family, Sandra Young and family, Linda and Judy Thompson, Zovie Seymour, Berthie Deal, Betty Rolle, Frank LaFrance, Shauna Knowles, Sonja Gardiner, Elizabeth Stubbs, Karen Sands, Louis, and Kermit Stubbs, Robert Griersewski Jr., The Johnson, Fernander, Petty, and Precod families, The Doctors and Nurses at the Palmetto Point Clinic and the entire Governor’s Harbour Community.

Friends may pay their last respects at St. Patrick’s Anglican Church, Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera on Friday from 6-8:00 p.m. & on Saturday at the church from 9:00 a.m. until service time

OLIVE PEACHES CURTIS, 70

a resident of #64 Sapodilla Blvd., will be held at Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, Pigeon Plum & Plane Street, Pinewood Gardens, on Saturday, June 1st, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. Officiating will be Pastor Daniel Nottage. Interment follows in Woodlawn Gardens, Soldier Road.

Left to cherish her memory, Daughter: Judith Taylor. Granddaughter: Jasmine Clarke. Sister: Shirley Micklewhite. Brothers: David (Veronica) and George Micklewhite (Katrina). Aunt: Agnes Pinder. Uncle: James Fernander. Nieces: Leona Paul, Luella Trotman (Ricardo), Maxine Sturrup, Gwen Capron (Antonio), Ashanti Micklewhite. Nephews: Godfrey Lightbourne, Noel and Ritchie Paul, Johnathan Bodie II, Cleveland Stubbs (Denise), Keith Rolle, Kendrick Micklewhite, A’Dante Micklewhite. Grandnieces: Sharlene and Davidra Goodman, Alexandria and April Garland, Megan Ferguson (Chavar), Janiyah and Jiselle Bodie, Garice Evans, Kenva Paul, Rickel Morton (Kenton), Enidand Amanda Sturrup, Ayla Capron, Ke’Asia and Kemora Roker, Shacarra Cox, Racquel Bain, Aquillonia and Conan Williamson, Maria Paul, Kiera, Richshan, Richea, and Richshada Thompson, Corey and Deniscia Stubbs, Katelyn Thompson, Kenrinique Micklewhite, Kendra Moss. Grandnephews: Jonathan Bodie III, Justin Bodie, Jonathan Young, Jaylin Bodie, Meicin Ferguson, Kristoph King, Ahfendi Micklewhite, Kelson Sturrup, Ralph Bain, Valentino, Antonio, and Keto Paul, Perez Kelly, Ryan, Richard Jr. and Richshano Thompson, Kelson, Colton and Courtney Stubbs, Desmond Moore Jr., Ivan Cleare, Kenrick Jr. and Kaiden Micklewhite. Cousin: Alvera Russell, Irene Mott, Diane Hepburn, Vernon Pinder, Esther Harris. Godchildren: Sharon Ferguson and Shakell Seymour. Other relatives and friends including: Judy Higgs & family, Dominique Bain & family, Nelson Bain Jr. & family, Donavan Brice & family, Sherry Miller & family, Cynthia Knowles & family, Marina & family, Stephanie Kemp & family, Garnet Brown & family, Garth Thompson & family, Michael Thompson & family, Retired Superintendent Roosevelt Curry (Senior Nursing Officer Joeanne Curry) & family, Dwight Knowles & family, Sam Bethel & family, Virginia Rolle & family, Eugene Thompson & family, Leander Davis & family, Ann Heastie & family, Stacia Rolle, Peggy Gilbert, Alphonso Taylor, Wendell Clarke. Wayne Goodman & family, Jeffrey Sands & family, Margo Taylor, the Pinewood Gardens Community, Georgina Gibbins, Lil Ann, Tameka Nottage & family, Pastor Daniel Nottage & family, Overseer Randolph Deleveaux & family, the Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church family, Evangelistic Temple family, the Club Med crew, The Hon. Leroy Major & family, Margarette Bain & family, Taneko Adams and the BAIC family, Fritz Stubbs & family, Juanita Bodie & family, Derek Knowles & family, and Kirtland Thompson & family. Our humblest apologies if we inadvertently omitted anyone.

Friends may pay their last respects at Demeritte’s Funeral Home, Market Street, from 10-5:00 p.m. on Friday & on Saturday at the church from 12:30 p.m. until service time.

Death Notice for DEACON JOSEPH BENJAMIN RUSSELL, 78

a resident of #7 Southern Breeze, off Golden Isles Road & formerly of Fox Town, Abaco, died on Sunday, May 26, 2024.

He is survived by his wife: Luella Russell; 1 sister: Florence McIntosh; adopted children: Ch. Supt. Allison Brooks, Tiffany Deveaux, Daphne Morris, Ron Deveaux, Keva Dillet; sisters-in-law: Mildred “Dr. Chou” Maurice, Eulamae Smith, Gloria McKenzie, Queenie Bain, Earla McKenzie, Barbara McKenzie, Patsy Simmons; nieces including: Linda, Yvonne & Fredricka Colebrooke & a host of other relatives & friends

Funeral arrangements will be announced later

Funeral Services for

KADASA MIRIAM MINNIS, 40

a resident of Pinewood Gardens & formerly of Freeport, Grand Bahama, will be held at Calvary Bible Church, Collins Avenue, on Saturday, June 1, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. Officiating will be Pastor Rob Elliott, assisted by Pastor Jory Nunn. Interment follows in Woodlawn Gardens, Soldier Road.

Left to cherish precious memories are, Mother: Winifred Oliver. Father: Randolph Rose Minnis. Children: K’Vin & K’Vinique Stuart, K’Sika Smith & Genesis Wallace Jr.; Grandfather: Randolph Minnis Sr.; Sister: Krishona. Brothers: Randolph Jr. & Karlye (Christina) Minnis, Ketto (Aleitha) & Keyrand (Wilna) Brice, Kareem (Brittney), Khambrel (Bryanna) & Kriston (Leticia) Minnis; Aunts: Edith, Christine, Kim, Dian, Cheryl, Martha, Donna, Pandora, Peggy, Bernadette, Shantell, Beverley, Royann, Rochelle, Vanessa and Terecita; Uncles: Troy, Burke, Charles, N’Kemo, Cyril, The Honourable Dr. Hubert Minnis, Huelin, Percy, Rudolph aka Singie, Akeem, Randolph(s), Rudolph(s), Christopher, Barry, Vaugh, Randy, Josey and Dewayne; Grandaunts: Gloria Rose Culmer, Idell, Irene, Izona & Donna; Granduncles: Daniel, Joseph, Jeremiah & Charles; Nieces: K’Shandera, K’Shawn, K’Nell, Kiara, Keyann, Amia, Kieanne, Kajai, Katelyna, Kristann, K’Morha; Nephews: Maxwell, Marctier, Mekhi, Kayden, Keyorie, K’Marion, K’Naje, Kareem II, Kriston Jr. & Kai; Grandnieces & Grandnephews: K’drianna, Keyshawn & Kyrie; Cousins: Kenny, Danny, Kenya, Kevin, Tameka, Kaydeania, Marvin, Marva, Lamon, Lator, Geno, Lakeno, Lakendra, Kakeisha, Lakeya, Tishura, Vanessa, Sherrico, Victoria, Elizabeth, Carla, Kayla, Kionekka, Carl Jr., Carlton, Cassinique, Casinell, Reva, Ricardo, Trevon, Javonne, Edden, Shavonne, Albert, Trevor Jr., Lathero, Tario, Marko, Shanrica, Keno, Bridgette, Quinten, Geovanni, George Jr., Quincy, Kirnique, Gernique, Devon, Nesha, Greralle, Neshonn, Quintera, Katijah, Neshann, Quintano, Chynead, Chardonae, Charles, Jr., Carlos, Neshadd, Naquale, Archelese, Neshonte, N’Kemo Jr., Krishona, Keyon, Keria. Other relatives and friends including: The Minnis Family, Rosie, Elrese, Kesha, Natanya, Deandra, Vernecia (Godchild), Pat Turnquest, Edward Penn, Janre Miller, Margaret Outten & Family, Carla Roach & Family, Sandra Simmons Family, Judy McFall, Anthea McIntosh & Family, the Wallace Family, the Smith Family, the Stuart Family, Permanent Secretary David Cates & Family, the Livingston Family, the Williams Family, Kathiane & Family, Serena Delancy & Family, Beulah Johnson & Family, the O’Brien Family, the Miller Family, the Meris Family, the Buchanan Family, Algame & Family, Rev. Shawn & Cola Missick, Tracey & Family, the McCollough Corner & Mason Addition Family, Staff of the Ministry of Labor & Public Service (especially Mrs. Renee Bullard), Shell Golden Gates, Sandy’s Clothing Store, C.I. Gibson Class of 2000, Bahamas Customs (Prince George Docks), Shell Saxons Superstars, Cleveland Clinic Traditional Hospital, Calvary Bible Church and a host of relatives and friends too numerous to mention.

Friends may pay their last respects at Demeritte’s Funeral Home, Market Street, from 10-6:00 p.m. on Friday & on Saturday at the church from 10:00 a.m. until service time.

WELLINGTON PRINCE

“Welly” CLARKE, 56

a resident of Marsh Harbour, Abaco & formerly of Andros, will be held at Christian Tabernacle Church, Market Street & Robinson Road, on Saturday, June 1, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. Officiating will be Pastor Christopher Russell. Cremation will follow.

Left to cherish his memories are his, Wife: Jennifer Clarke; Sons: Prince, Timothy, Anvar, Wellington Jr., and Weltonio Clarke; Daughters: Audrika, Kelreeser, and Janica Clarke; Adopted Son: Darius Fox; Brothers: Clement Clarke (Kerstella); Sisters: Lillian Rolle, Ann Marie Clarke, Monique Christie, Lorna McKenzie; Grandchildren: Wel’leah, Zhavonne, Wellington Jr., Prince Jr., Parallel, Terrance, Audrinique, Adrianna, Gia, Kelliah and Uriah Clarke, Jamal King and Yurie Sargent; Brothers: Clement Clarke (Kerstella); Sisters: Lillian Rolle, Ann Marie Clarke, Monique Christie, Lorna McKenzie; Nieces: Clemese, Ashanti, Zoe, Seirra, Krissel, Ashley Thompson, Shaquila Murphy, Kaylah McKenzie & Alisha Garner; Nephews: Clement Jr. & Kendrake, GlenAngelo Thompson, Anthony Donald, Zachariah Garner, Nucaldi Rolle; Aunts: Olive Hanna, Christine & Celestine Evans; Uncle: Herbert Evans Jr.; Sister-in-Law: Predenesia Clarke; Cousins: Sgt Wendell Ramsey (Anniska), Shilock Ramsey, Ramon

Rolle; and a host of other relatives & friends too numerous to mention.

Friends may pay their last respects at Demeritte’s Funeral Home, Market Street, from 10-6:00 p.m. on Friday & on Saturday at the church from 10:00 a.m. until service time.

Graveside Service for

ELOISE TURNER, 82

a resident of Sandilands Geriatrics, will be held at Southern Cemetery, Cowpen & Spikenard Roads, on Friday, May 31, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. Officiating will be Apostle Minerva Pickstock, assisted by Bishop Melanie Boddie & Minister Sandra Bethel. Interment follows.

Left to cherish memories are: Emily Ferguson and Family, The Fernander Family, the Family of the late Nathan Ferguson, The Turner Family, The Capron Family, The Thompson Family, The Staff of Sandilands Geriatrics especially Krux Shank Ward, The Staff - Doctors and Nurses of The Princess Margaret Hospital especially Med Surg East Ward, The Agape Church Family, The Staff of Demeritte’s Funeral Home and a host of other Family and Friends too numerous to mention. Thank You Everyone!

Friends may pay their last respects at Demeritte’s Funeral Home, Market Street, from 1-5:00 p.m. on Thursday & on Friday at the cemetery from 10:00 a.m. until service time

Death Notices for MARTHA EDGECOMBE MONCUR, 70

a resident of Butler’s Alley, off Wulff Road, died at PMH on Friday, May 24, 2024.

She is survived by her adopted daughter: Ghandi Pinder; 3 sons: Marcus & Hans Moncur & Theo Douglas; 3 grandchildren: Celeste Moncur, Marcus Moncur Jr. & Oliver Moncur; 4 sisters: Elzonia Humes, Sheila Ferguson, Emily Cox & Mary Burrows; 2 brothers: Edward & Philip Edgecombe; numerous nieces & nephews & a host of other relatives & friends

Funeral arrangements will be announced later

SAMUEL MACKEY, 75

a resident of Quakoo Street, died at PMH on Wednesday, May 8, 2024.

He is survived by his 2 daughters: Muriel Saunders & Stacy Mackey; son-in-law: Trevere Saunders; 2 grandsons: Larry Miller & Delon Mackey; brothers: Zarl Mackey (Vivian) & a host of other relatives & friends.

Funeral arrangements will be announced later.

SHEENA VERONICA BULLARD, 56

a resident of Venice Bay, died at PMH on Monday, 27 May, 2024.

She is survived by her 2 children: Deangelo Rolle & Deandra Rolle of Orlando, Fl.; siblings: Rev. Bernol Bullard, Stedman Bullard, Pacherlee Bullard, Ernestine Flowers, Paula Bain, Patricia Taylor, Beverley Coleby; daughter-in-law: Carnique Rolle; granddaughter: Amayah Rolle; numerous nieces & nephews & a host of other relatives & friends

Funeral arrangements will be announced later

SPORTS

THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2024

‘Road to Paris’

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter

The Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) Kids Athletics, Junior and Senior Nationals might be one of the most highly anticipated events of the track and field season and it is set to return to the original Thomas A Robinson Stadium June 26-28.

The meet will precede the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, scheduled for July 26 to August 11 in Paris, France, and Bahamian athletes are expected to be at full strength for the threeday meet.

Meet Director Demarius Cash is expecting to see

stiff competition at what has been dubbed the ‘Road to Paris’ with Olympians Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Steven “Speedy” Gardiner leading the way. “We want to highlight our athletes and present them to you and you get to see our talent pool. The meet is gonna be a very interesting meet. We have two of our Olympic champions coming in Steven Gardiner and Shaunae Miller-Uibo. The meet itself is gonna be a high class meet where

MOUNTS

everyone is gonna try to get on this team for the ‘Road to Paris’. We want everybody to come out and watch this event,” Cash said.

Presently, six Bahamian athletes have qualified in individual events for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. The list of individual qualifiers to this point are world indoor record holder Devynne Charlton, Denisha Cartwright, Charisma Taylor (100mh), Anthonique Strachan (100m and 200m), Wanya

TO GO: Executives

McCoy (200m) and Steven “Speedy” Gardiner (400m). The Bahamas has also qualified in the mixed 4x400m relay event.

BAAAs president Drumeco Archer is expecting the list of Bahamian Olympic qualifiers to grow at the BAAAs Kids

Blue Chip throwers Taysha, Dior-Rae commit to the University of Nebraska

By TENAJH SWEETING

Reporter

tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas’ top junior javelin throwers

Dior-Rae Scott and Taysha Stubbs will soon embark on a new journey at the collegiate level with University of Nebraska Cornhuskers.

The dynamic duo officially announced their commitment to the Cornhuskers yesterday.

Both Stubbs and Scott are coming off remarkable performances at the 2024 CARIFTA Games and have turned in strong performances their entire junior careers leading up to this point.

Taysha Stubbs

Stubbs is an eleventh grader at Queen’s College and got her start with Blue Chip Athletics in September of 2021. The CARIFTA gold medallist was originally enthralled by softball until she was introduced to the javelin throw event by coaches Corrington Maycock and Laquell Harris.

Since then, the 16-yearold has become a household name with regards to the javelin throw event, leading up to her latest decision to commit to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) DI programme. A decision which involved numerous contributing factors.

“There were a lot of different factors that contributed to it. Firstly, the academics there is off the chain and then on the javelin side their programme is number one for both males and females. It is definitely a good thing. I am really excited to be able to have the opportunity to go and train with them and be surrounded by the best of the best,” she said. Stubbs has certainly been on a tear in 2024 since making her transition to the under-20 girls’ division. She has competed in over eight events this season and has not won on only one occasion. Her most notable performances during the 2024 campaign have been at the 2024 CARIFTA Games, Penn Relays and recently the Fritz Grant Track and Field Invitational.

She emerged as a gold medallist in her CARIFTA debut with a winning and personal best toss of 50.94m. The 16-year-old followed up the performance with a victory at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she bested the competition with a heave of 47.17m.

She came close to topping her personal best throw this month at the Fritz Grant Track and Field Invitational, posting a mark

THE SPORTS CALENDAR

TRACK NPPPSSA TRACK MEET

THE New Providence Public Primary Schools Sports Association will hold its annual track and field meet over the next two days at the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium.

According to association president Latoya Sturrup, a total of 10 schools will be participating in the meet. Uriah McPhee are the defending champions, followed by last year’s runners-up Cleveland Primary. Sadie Curtis got third place.

May, 2024

The meet will continue today and Friday. At the conclusion of the meet on Friday, awards will be presented to the various individual and team winners. BLUE CHIP ATHLETICS

THE Blue Chips Athletic Field Club, coached by Corrington Maycock, will hold its Team Trials on Saturday at Queen’s College. All athletes between the ages of 12-18, who are interested in learning how to throw the javelin, discus or shot put. The trials will start at 8am. Interested persons can call 395-6381 or 818-2085 for more information. SWIMMING MAKO INVITATIONAL THE Mako Swim Club will hold its Invitational Swim meet this weekend at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim

SEE PAGE 17

CLEVELAND ENEAS TAKES CHARGE ON DAY ONE

By TENAJH SWEETING

THE defending champions of the New Providence Public Primary Schools Sports Association (NPPPSSA) Track and Field Championships led competitors after day one of competition at the original Thomas A Robinson Stadium.

Cleveland Eneas is currently atop the team rankings with a total of 41 points. Palmdale Primary is trailing by just six points, with a total of 35 points headed into day two of the meet. Carlton Francis has secured the final spot in the top three after racking up 33 points yesterday. Mariska Thompson, head coach of Cleveland Eneas, said she was pleased with the

team’s performances and will be expecting them to lock in for today’s events.

“I am very pleased with what I have seen thus far.

Most of my children performed extremely well and most of them are in the finals for tomorrow. It is just a matter of them being focused and executing,” she said.

She doubled down on those sentiments and stated that once her athletes place emphasis on focus and execution they will be okay.

“My main expectation for the children is to stay focused until the very end. Once they stay focused and execute I think they will be okay,” she said.

Field Carlton Francis Primary won two out of the six field events hosted yesterday. Beneby Lebrun emerged

victorious in the boys shot put event (A Division). He posted a winning mark of 8.57m. TG Glover’s Makhai Munnings placed second with a toss of 8.51m and Tevin Tucker, representing Garvin Tynes, came third with a throwing distance of 8.47m. Carlton Francis was also successful in the boys’ softball throw event (B Division). Ramon Rahming earned the first place spot with a heave of 40.30m. Sadie Curtis’ Waiden Bain dropped to the second spot with his throw of 38.83m. Placing third was Eva Hilton’s Allan Curry with 35.30m. J’Lynn Bain came first for Sadie Curtis in the girls’ softball throw event (C Division). She bested SEE PAGE 16

Jazz and Marlins beat Padres 9-1 behind season-high 16 hits

By BERNIE WILSON AP Sports Writer

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Braxton Garrett outlasted Yu Darvish, Josh Bell had three hits and scored twice and the Miami Marlins beat the sloppy San Diego Padres 9-1 yesterday to avoid a sweep.

Jesús Sánchez hit a solo homer and Jasrado “Jazz”

Chisholm Jr. had two hits and drove in two runs as the Marlins had a season-high 16 hits and snapped the Padres’ three-game winning streak. The Padres dropped to 13-19 at home.

Garrett (2-0) was impressive for five innings, allowing one run and six hits, with two strikeouts and no walks. His only big mistake was allowing HaSeong Kim’s leadoff homer in the third, his seventh.

Garrett was making just his fourth start this season after spending the first 38 games on the injured list due to a left shoulder

impingement suffered during spring training. He was coming off his first career shutout — on just 95 pitches — in a win at Arizona on Friday night.

“Not super sharp, but was able to get through it was just the one run,” Garrett said. “It was one of those days where I felt I was just missing and when I tried to make that adjustment, I’d miss over the plate. Wasn’t sharp, but we battled hard.”

He was backed to some nice defensive plays. With runners on first and second, and two outs in the third, Bell, the first baseman made a nice diving stop of Jake Cronenworth’s grounder and threw him out to end the inning. In the fifth, left fielder Nick Gordon barehanded the carom of Fernando Tatis Jr.’s liner off the base of the wall and threw him out at second.

“At this level you’ve got to play defence,” manager Skip Schumaker. “When we

pitch and we play defence, we usually win. Today was another example of that.”

Schumaker said Garrett was “probably not as sharp as he wanted to be, but every time he pitches we have a really good chance to win.”

The Marlins went 3-3 on a swing through Arizona and San Diego. “We faced a really good lineup, our pitchers did really good, our offense broke out finally, today, which is good to see,” Schumaker said. “Arizona I thought we did fantastic. We had a chance to win two games here as well, but that’s the big leagues.”

Darvish (4-3) was finished after three innings and 66 pitches. He allowed three runs, two earned, and six hits, with two strikeouts and one walk. It was his second straight loss after winning his previous four starts.

“Darvish is not easy to face,” Schumaker said. “He

Taysha, Dior-Rae commit to University of Nebraska

FROM PAGE 15

of 50.55m. Her winning performances have placed in the top three of the under-18 world rankings for the javelin event and she has plans to go even further.

“I am so excited. I just have a lot more in store and a lot more that I want to bring out on the field. I am just excited for what is coming and what I am going to be able to do with coach Dustin at the University of Nebraska in a new environment with a new start,” the CARIFTA gold medallist said.

Scott and Stubbs are not the first set of Blue Chip throwers to commit to the University of Nebraska as reigning NCAA javelin champion Rhema Otabor is one of their top javelin throwers.

The QC Comet called Otabor an “inspiration” and is looking forward to making her own mark on the collegiate scene as well.

“Rhema has always been an inspiration for me especially when it comes to javelin. I do not wanna limit myself. I just wanna be able to go out there in my college career and be able to break records,” she said.

The NACAC under-18 bronze medallist was thankful to God, her mother,

coaches Maycock and Harris as well as family and friends for their continued support on this journey.

Dior-Rae Scott Scott is an eleventh grade student at St Augustine’s College (SAC). She joined the Blue Chip Athletics Club in May 2021 and has secured top podium spots and etched her name in record books ever since.

The 16-year-old is a javelin maestro on the field and offensive machine on the basketball court.

The versatile athlete is now set to join the Cornhuskers in fall 2025 and she gave insight on her decision making process.

“I decided to commit to the University of Nebraska because of my main focus which is academics. That is first because they showed me all that I needed to know for my major and after that they have a really great programme for javelin. I know that I will be able to excel if I am going to that school,” Scott said. Her junior career has been nothing short of phenomenal. Just this year, Scott left St George’s, Grenada as the CARIFTA record holder in the under17 girls’ javelin throw event.

She pulled off an impressive heave of 52.53m to replace Kamera Strachan’s

CLEVELAND

FROM PAGE 15

competitors with a throwing distance of 28.65m. Gabriel Francois picked up a second place finish for Albury Sayle and Sandilands Primary’s Mauriyah Pierre was third overall.

former record of 46.07m. A few months prior, she took down Strachan’s BAISS record of 42.00m with her massive throw of 49.83m.

The mark was listed as the farthest throw by any female in the Caribbean for the javelin 500g.

The multiple time CARIFTA medallist is grateful for all she has achieved in such a short time and is looking forward to progressing further in Lincoln, Nebraska.

“I am really excited to take this next step. I am grateful and I thank God for allowing me to make it this far. I just want to continue working hard so that when I make it to college next year after grade 12 I will just continue excelling and doing the best I can,” she said.

The SAC student thanked her parents, brother, coach Maycock and Harris and the coach at the University of Nebraska for all of their support.

Both young ladies are looking forward to attending university together and have the same goal in mind; to push each other to new heights.

lives on the edges and you get in trouble if you chase and you start to play guess with him.

“So we got him in the middle of the plate. I thought the guys did a really good job.”

In his last start, Darvish allowed four home runs to the New York Yankees in an 8-0 loss on Friday night.

The Marlins took advantage of Padres’ mistakes, including two errors.

No. 9 batter Nick Fortes hit a two-out RBI double in

the second as right fielder

Fernando Tatis Jr., who won the NL Gold Glove and Platinum Glove awards last year, took a bad route. Chisholm Jr followed with an RBI single. A throwing error by Padres third baseman Manny Machado allowed a run in the third.

The Marlins piled on with three runs in the fifth.

Jake Burger, Otto Lopez and Vidal Bruján all hit RBI singles for a 6-1 lead.

Sánchez homered with one

out in the sixth, his third, and Chisholm

hit an

triple in the seventh.

UP

NEXT Marlins: RHP Sixto

at Kansas City.

Milton Newbold represented Palmdale Primary well in the boys’ long jump event (A Division). He soared to 4.59m for the win. Uriah McPhee’s Jason Moncur ended his jump in second place with 4.52m. Jamal McSweeney, of EP Roberts, wrapped up the event in third with a jump of 4.50m.

FROM PAGE 15

excellence in our sport and I think that what we see today is a testament to the excellence of our programme. I think at the end of the day we see results and we continue to produce results. For the first time in our history, we will be marching three exciting hurdlers to Paris and I think that more will be to come. I am excited about our prospects for relay [teams] that have yet to qualify. More specifically, our men and women’s 4x100m there is an opportunity once again for them to qualify,” Archer said.

Laveah Johnson prevailed for Thelma Gibson Primary in the girls’ long jump event (C Division).

Day one of competition will feature the sprinters in the 100m event and quartermilers in the 400m. Athletes will also compete in the high jump event.

The 100m sprint event is expected to be exciting as top performers Terrence Jones and McCoy are anticipated to compete at next month’s nationals along with other collegiate athletes who were unable to attend the 2024 BTC World Relays. Archer is looking forward to seeing the collegiate athletes turn in strong performances on home soil.

“I am excited. I think that what can be said is that Team Bahamas suffered with the absence of a lot of our outstanding collegiate athletes competing. We are

She was the best performer with a jump of 3.56m.

Dutchess Williams, who attends Sadie Curtis, was second in the event with 3.07m. Palmdale Primary’s Kayanna Dean got the third position with 3.02m.

Janae Phillipe claimed first place in the girls’ high jump event (B Division) with her leap of 1.24m.

excited about having Terrence Jones, Wanya McCoy, Antoine Andrews, Denisha Cartwright, who is already an Olympic qualifier and Anthaya Charlton, who was a standout athlete at the collegiate level. Then you have the likes of Rhema Otabor and Keyshawn Strachan who will also be returning to our space. We are excited and I think this is an opportunity for there to be a regeneration of talent in our programme and we will have an opportunity to see it then,” he said.

This year’s Junior and Senior Nationals has a new component in the form of the Kids Athletics segment which begins at 10am each day. Athletes in the under13 (U13) and under-15

Tamia Brown, of Claridge Primary, and Sandilands Primary’s Derricka Smith finished second and third respectively.

Track

On the track, Thelma Gibson Primary was the victor of the girls’ 1200m finals for the B Division.

Haddassah Iffin crossed the finish line in 4:46.86 for Thelma Gibson in the girls event. Iyanna Rolle stayed the course and capped off the event in second place with a time of 4:53.29.

(U15) age groups will be invited based on performance results to compete at the national meet. They will participate in the high jump, softball throw, hurdles and javelin events. Additionally, the track meet will include a ‘Differently Abled’ session and athletes will compete in the 100m event.

The BAAAs president was delighted to see the new components added to the meet’s schedule.

“It was important for us to see our Kids Athletics programme form part of the overall national programme because young kids want to be like Shaunae MillerUibo and emulate the likes of Steven Gardiner and Devynne Charlton. It is important for them to be a

Ridgeland Primary’s Jazzaria Key got in on the action and ended in third place with a time of 4:59.20. In the boys’ event, Palmdale Primary’s Liam Bethel and Cleveland Eneas’ Deon Fowler both equalled 4:23.44 in the race for first. Micke Deneus, of Centreville Primary, trailed both performers with his time of 4:44.85.

part of that space. We have integrated a programme that we believe is exciting for the grandparents, aunts and uncles to come and watch ‘little Johnny’ run. We will have our junior programme that will highlight the Carlos Browns and some of the standouts…I am appealing to Bahamians far and wide to come out and watch,” he said. According to Sheldon Longley, BAAAs vice president of public relations and marketing, Bahamians will surely be in for a treat with regards to the hurdles event which is scheduled for day two.

This is the first time in Bahamian history that three athletes have qualified in the hurdles event for a global event.

Day two of the NPPPSSA Track and Field Championships resumes this morning at 10am. The 800m event will be the first race of the day.

“We have never had this much athletes qualify in the women’s 100m hurdles so it is going to be an exciting race between those three and we are looking forward to it. Denisha Cartwright is just coming off a NCAA DII title win, Devynne Charlton, who is the world indoor record holder and Charisma Taylor have all qualified. We expect a lot more of our athletes to qualify at the nationals,” Longley said. The three-day meet will begin at 10am each day starting with the Kid Athletics segment and that will be followed by the Junior and Senior portion of the meet at 5pm. Tickets are priced at $20 for VIP seating and $15 for regular seating.

Jr

RBI

Sánchez (1-3, 6.25 ERA) is scheduled to start Friday night in the opener of a home series against the Texas Rangers.

Padres: RHP Dylan Cease (5-4, 3.29) will start Friday night in the opener of a three-game series

MIAMI Marlins’ Jazz Chisholm Jr, left, celebrates as he stands on first base next to first base Jon Jay after hitting an RBI single during the second inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres yesterday in San Diego.

(AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

IT’S OFFICIAL: Top javelin throwers Dior-Rae Scott and Taysha

Stubbs have officially committed to the University of Nebraska for the next stage of their athletic careers.

Jonquel Jones scores 20 points to help her New York Liberty beat

Phoenix Mercury 81-78

By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer

NEW YORK (AP)

— With the game in the balance, Jonquel Jones took over.

Jones scored 10 of her 20 points in the fourth quarter to help the New York Liberty beat the Phoenix Mercury 81-78 last night.

The Liberty’s star centre spent most of the first few quarters outside of the paint, but made a concerted effort to get inside in the fourth.

“We had a different level of intentionality with me getting it down there,” Jones said.

“Giving me time to post up and really seal, but

ultimately it was a mindset shift from me and my teammates.”

New York (5-2) trailed 74-71 late in the fourth quarter before going on a 9-0 run, including four points by Jones to take control.

Her layup with 2:12 left started the spurt and she hit two free throws with 1:09 left that gave New York a 76-74 lead. After a stop, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton hit a tough foul line jumper with 30 seconds left giving the Liberty a four-point cushion.

Phoenix (3-4) couldn’t recover.

Sabrina Ionescu led New York with 22 points, nine assists and six rebounds.

Natasha Cloud scored 21 points and Kahleah Copper added 20 for the Mercury.

“We know we’re never out of games, we don’t want to get ourselves in a hole,” Copper said. “We have competitors and fighters and we never got rattled when we got down. I’m proud of how we fought back and wish the outcome was different.”

Phoenix was down 60-59 after three quarters before Diana Taurasi hit consecutive 3-pointers to open the fourth and give the Mercury a five-point lead — its biggest of the game to that point. New York then scored the next nine points, including five by Jones, to go up 69-65.

The Mercury then had their own 9-2 run, including five points by Copper to go up 74-71 with 2:42 left.

New York jumped out to a 19-6 lead behind hot 3-point shooting. The Liberty made five of their first seven from behind the arc. They led 33-20 after the first quarter. Phoenix was looking to rebound from an awful shooting night on Tuesday in Connecticut.

The Mercury were 1 of 27 from 3-point range in that 70-47 loss. They hit two 3-pointers in the first quarter on Wednesday.

Phoenix stormed back behind Cloud to get within 47-44 at the half. Cloud had three of the Mercury’s seven 3-pointers in the first

half. The Mercury finished 10-for-30 from behind the 3-point arc. WORKING HER WAY BACK

Brittney Griner has missed the start of the season with a broken toe on her left foot. She did get some work in before the game on the court and told the AP she’s progressing.

Coach Nate Tibbetts said before the game that Griner was out of a boot.

“I think it’s been good mentally to get out of the boot,” Tibbetts said. “Every day we’re getting closer, and I know she can’t wait and we can’t wait.”

UP NEXT

Mercury: Phoenix closes out its three-game road trip with a game in Minnesota on Friday night.

Liberty: New York hosts Washington on Friday night in the middle game of a three-game homestand.

The T-wolves got back to playing stingy defence and kept the West

finals against Mavericks going

— For all the problems the Minnesota Timberwolves were presented by the Dallas Mavericks over three straight losses to start the Western Conference finals, the one dogging them the most was the part of their game that led them this far in the first place.

The best defensive team in the NBA during the regular season — the Timberwolves held opponents under 100 points six times in 11 games over the first two rounds of the playoffs — had simply been shredded.

Playing with an edge carved by the determination to dodge a sweep and a boost created by a strategic switch, the Wolves forced both Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving into their lowest scoring totals and worst shooting percentages of the series and won Game 4 to extend the series.

“We’re in the NBA, man. No team is just going to lay down and give me and Luka open shots,” Irving said. “I think when I look at just the quality of our shots, I think a few of them could

SPORTS CALENDAR

FROM PAGE 15

Complex. The meet is open to all clubs in the Bahamas and will feature the boys and girls divisions from 8-and-under to 15-and-over.

The meet will get started on Friday at 6pm and continue 9am Saturday.

The final session will take place 6pm Saturday when there will be an awards presentation to individual winners and the overall team.

PEACE ON DA

be better. A few of them were rushed. A few of them were in and out. Especially when the game is in the balance, I’m thinking about all the plays where it could’ve gone either way.”

The Wolves moved NBA All-Defensive Second Team pick Jaden McDaniels to guard Irving, giving him a 7-inch (17.7-centimeter) height advantage, and gave Anthony Edwards the primary assignment of defending Doncic in a surprise matchup for the two superstars.

“Unbelievably great players have had their fingerprints all over this series, making so many great plays and tough shots. At some point, maybe they’re going to have a little bit of an off night,” Wolves coach Chris Finch said. “I mean, we were down 3-0. Just shuffling the deck. Ant’s good on ball, good at navigating screens. Maybe a little length on Kyrie could help. Obviously length on Doncic hadn’t really been effective, hasn’t been bothering him as much. So we just tried something different.”

The Wolves host Game 5 tonight, finally carrying some momentum after the 105-100 victory.

THE annual Peace On Da Streets Basketball Classic, dubbed “Shooting Hoops instead of Guns,” is scheduled for July 15-21 at the Michael ‘Scooter Reid” Basketball Center at the Hope Center. All games will start at 6pm each day. Categories include 12-and-under, 16-andunder, 20-and-under, government ministry, church and open divisions. The event is being promoted by Guardian Radio and Radio House Outreach.

“Just wash our hands with this one,” Irving said. “They got a win. They’re a great team. I’ve been saying it all series. We expect them to do the same thing in Minnesota: come out with that physicality and play to their home crowd and make things difficult on me and Luka.”

Doncic averaged 32.7 points on 46.4% shooting over the first three games. He went 7 for 21 from the floor and finished with 28 points in Game 4.

Irving averaged 27.7 points on 52.5% shooting over the first three games. He went 6 for 18 from the floor and finished with 16 points in Game 4.

The daunting duo not only dominated the first three games with their

shots, but the laser-like passing of Doncic in particular set up the Mavericks for well-timed and wideopen 3-pointers — or lobs for dunks by Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II.

The centre tandem minimised the impact of Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert and frequently caught fellow big man Karl-Anthony Towns out of position.

The Wolves, after limiting defending champion Denver to an average under 98 points over their sevengame series in the second round — including final scores of 70, 80 and 90 — allowed an average of 111 points to Dallas over the first three games.

“It’s always being around them,” McDaniels said,

“and trying to make it hard for them.”

The Edwards-McDaniels shuffle clearly made a difference. Now the question is whether the Wolves will stick with what worked most recently and, if so, how the Mavericks will respond.

“He’s a 6-9 wing defender that I’m seeing now for the first time from the start of the game, so it’s going to be an adjustment, but I love it,” Irving said of McDaniels. “I relish in these type of opportunities. It’s not the first time I’ve gone against a taller defender.”

The Mavs would get a big lift if their tallest defender suits back up. The 7-foot-1 rookie Lively was held out of Game 4 with a sprained neck suffered in a collision

with Towns’ knee in Game 3. Lively has been upgraded to questionable for Game 5, according to the league’s official injury report.

No team in the history of the NBA playoffs has come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a best-of-seven series, a well-documented statistic the Wolves would love to flip. Of the 155 teams before the Wolves who have fallen behind 3-0, only 11 of them have even forced a Game 6, and just four of them went to a Game 7.

The only one of those teams to make Game 7 that was the higher seed with home-court advantage in those series was Boston just last year, before falling to Miami in the Eastern Conference finals. So here are the Wolves, eager for at least one more game in front of their fans in what has been a remarkable ride for a team that hadn’t escaped the first round in 20 years — let alone posted a winning record in most of those seasons.

“It’ll be rocking. The fans will probably be going crazy,” McDaniels said.

“We’re going to try to come out with a win. Because all of a sudden, you win one, and who knows?

CLASSIC THE Bahamas Football Association, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Technical & Vocational Training, is hosting the Samuel P Haven Jr High School Soccer Nationals 2024 at the Roscow AL Davies Fields. May 30 - Semi-finals 4:30 and 6pm. Finals - 4pm - 3rd Place Boys and Girls. 5:30pm - Girls Championship game. 7pm - Boys Championship game.

CLERGY VS POLITICIANS AS a part of the annual Peace ON Da Streets Basketball Classic, organisers will once again stage the showdown between members of the Clergy against the Members of Parliament. This game is scheduled for 8pm Sunday, July 21 at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium. SAMUEL HAVEN HIGH SCHOOL

NEW York Liberty’s Jonquel Jones (35) scored 20 points to help the New York Liberty beat the Phoenix Mercury 81-78 last night in New York. She also had seven rebounds and one assist. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

MAVERICKS guard Luka Doncic (77) is pressured by Timberwolves centre Rudy Gobert (27), guard Anthony Edwards (5) and forward Jaden McDaniels (3) during Game 4. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Denisha Cartwright and Wanya McCoy in high gear for May Athletes of the Month

‘THE 24-YEAR-OLD SWITCHED HER TASSEL FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF HER GRADUATION CAP TO THE LEFT AND WATCHED THE CURTAINS CLOSE ON WHAT WAS WITHOUT A SHADOW OF A DOUBT AN AMAZING COLLEGIATE CAREER OVER AT MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY. SHE WRAPPED UP HER COLLEGIATE TENURE ON A HIGH NOTE, ADDING TWO MORE NATIONAL TITLES TO HER LONG LIST OF ACCOLADES AND PICKING UP A SILVER MEDAL FINISH AT THE NCAA DIVISION II OUTDOOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS.’

Hurdler Denisha Carwright and sprinter Wanya McCoy have certainly ramped up both of their individual performances in May to run away with this edition of the Tribune Athletes of the Month honours. The Tribune Sports section will recognise the efforts of athletes across all sporting disciplines and award a male and female candidate at the end of each respective month, culminating with the athlete of the year. With the 2024 Paris Olympic Games on the horizon, Cartwright and McCoy were the latest Bahamian athletes to join the growing list of Olympic qualifiers for The Bahamas and they both achieved the feat this month.

Denisha CartwrightFemale Winner

There might not be enough words to describe the recent stretch Cartwright is having in track and field. The 24-year-old switched her tassel from the right side of her graduation cap to the left and watched the curtains close on what

was without a shadow of a doubt an amazing collegiate career over at Minnesota State University. She wrapped up her collegiate tenure on a high note, adding two more national titles to her long list of accolades and picking

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer

PARIS (AP) — Iga Swiatek played like the current No. 1 and the two-time defending champion at the French Open. No surprise there. That Naomi Osaka looked like the former No. 1 that she is — and on clay, no less — amounted to an announcement that she is still quite capable of elite tennis.

Surging down the stretch as Osaka faded, Swiatek saved a match point and grabbed the last five games to sneak her way to a 7-6 (1), 1-6, 7-5 victory in the second round of the French Open on Wednesday night in a thrill-a-minute contest befitting two women who both own four Grand Slam titles.

“For sure, this match was really intense. Much more intense for the second round than I ever expected. For sure, I’ll be more ready next time,” Swiatek said. “Naomi played amazing tennis. … I’m happy that she’s back and she’s playing well.”

For Swiatek, this extended her Roland Garros winning streak to 16 matches as she pursues a third consecutive trophy at the clay-court major. For Osaka, who cried when she left the court after letting a 5-2 lead in the concluding set slip away, this amounted to a return to her big-hitting best.

They went back-andforth for nearly three hours as rain loudly pelted the outside of the closed roof at Court Philippe Chatrier

— showers forced the postponements of 23 singles matches until Thursday — and a riveted, if hardly full, crowd alternated their support between the two players. Sometimes, spectators called out before a point was done, prompting admonishment from chair umpire Aurélie Tourte during the match. And from Swiatek afterward.

“Sometimes, under a lot of pressure, when you scream something during the rally or right before the return, it’s really, really hard to be focused,” Swiatek said. “The stakes are big and there is a lot of money here to win. So losing a few points may change a lot. So please, guys, if you can support us between the rallies but not during, that would be really, really amazing.”

up a silver medal finish at the NCAA Division II Outdoor National Championships in Emporia, Kansas this past weekend.

Cartwright was in top form in the 100m hurdles event hosted at the Welch Stadium. She ran a

Osaka served for the victory at 5-3 in the final set, and was a point away from winning, but she put a backhand into the net. Soon, when Osaka missed another backhand, this one long, Swiatek finally converted a break point on her 10th chance of that set, and they played on.

Maybe the lack of highlevel matches caught up to Osaka, because her mistakes continued to mount, including a double-fault that put Swiatek in control 6-5. Swiatek, who has led the WTA rankings for nearly every week since April 2022, then held serve one last time.

“I don’t necessarily feel like I regret anything,” Osaka said.

Still, this was, without a doubt, Osaka’s top

blistering 12.37 seconds in her speciality event to take home one of two national titles. She then doubled up on the victories by prevailing in 200m finals as well.

She clocked a personal best 22.91 seconds in that respective event to hoist two national titles.

Before the weekend was over, the top hurdler would also nab a silver medal in the 100m finals. She secured the second position of the event with a time of 11.14 seconds. She concluded her collegiate tenure 16 career All-America trophies and five career national titles.

If that was not enough, Cartwright also became the third Bahamian to qualify for the Olympic Games in the 100m hurdles event.

Earlier this month, she competed at the NSIC Outdoor Championships where she not only broke NSIC record, facility record and Mankato State programme record but also qualified for the Olympics with a time of 12.60 seconds in the 100m hurdles event.

The decorated hurdler will be one to watch at next month’s BAAAs Junior and Senior Nationals set for June 26-28.

Wanya McCoyMale Winner McCoy nearly qualified for both the 100m and 200m events in May but only hit the Olympic qualifying standard for the 200m sprint. Competing at the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Gainesville, Florida, McCoy ran a swift 19.93 seconds in the 200m event to dip under the qualifying mark of 20.16 seconds. He ended this event in second place. He was dangerously close to hitting the 10.00 Olympic qualifying mark in the 100m event but he ran a personal best time of 10.02 seconds at the same meet.

The 21-year-old also wrapped up this event in the second spot. McCoy closed out the month qualifying in both the 100m and 200m events for the upcoming NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships set for June 8 in Eugene, Oregon.

Stay tuned for June’s Tribune Athletes of the Month.

performance since she returned to the tour in January after 15 months away while becoming a mother.

(Her daughter, who is 10 months old now, accompanied Osaka to Paris and recently started walking.)

“I was watching Iga win this tournament last year, and I was pregnant. It was just my dream to be able to play her,” Osaka said.

“When I kind of think of it like that, I think I’m doing pretty well. And I’m also just trying not to be too hard on myself.

“I feel like I played her on her better surface. I’m a hard-court kid, so I would love to play her on

my surface and see what happens.” Because of the weather, only nine matches were completed yesterday, and winners included Coco Gauff, Ons Jabeur, Sofia Kenin, Carlos Alcaraz, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Andrey Rublev. It has been a few years since Osaka played this capably and confidently, hammering big serves at up to 122 mph (197

and imposing groundstrokes. Her quick-strike

bilities were on

advantage in

NAOMI Osaka reacts after missing a shot against Iga Swiatek during their second round match of the French Open yesterday. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

RELIGIOUS NEWS, STORIES AND CHURCH EVENTS

‘We

Came to Praise’ ONE WEEK TO GO UNTIL THE BAHAMAS GOSPEL

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

AFTER months of build-up and anticipation, the time has now finally come to honour those in the local gospel industry who have been making a mark with their music and ministry.

The fourth instalment of the Bahamas Gospel Music Awards ceremony will take place on Sunday, June 9, at Bahamas Faith Ministries (BFM), Carmichael Road.

This is a major milestone for organisers who started with awards with a mission to recognise those whose hard work may have gone unrewarded.

“This year's celebration, themed "We Came to Praise," promises to be an evening of inspiring performances, heartfelt tributes, and a joyous gathering of the gospel music

community,” said its executive producer, Travis Edgecombe. The event will kick off with a pre-show at 5pm, which will be streamed live on the BGMA Facebook page, hosted by Berthony McDermott and Mario Almanzar. Attendees will be treated to a red carpet experience and a lively prelude to the main event.

Another highlight will be the live performances, which Mr Edgecombe said will raise a spirit of praise and worship.

MUSIC AWARDS 2024

Featured performers for the evening include ninetime Marlin Award-winning Trinidadian gospel reggae singer Sherwin Gardner, alongside talented local artists Eman, Alia Coley, Oslien Jadorte, Brendi Be, Stermon, I Am Stacs, Leesa Williams, Davian Chase, Ria Mark-Strachan, Rashad Cunningham, Shannette Hepburn, The New Goodwill Praise Team, Thomas Maxwell Jr, and Willissa Nyobi Mackey.

The performers, Mr Edgecombe said, represent the diverse and vibrant gospel music scene of the Bahamas, and their appearances are “eagerly anticipated”.

The team, he added, is working diligently to ensure that is night of elegance is executed successfully.

“As we approach the fourth annual Bahamas Gospel Music Awards, there is a palpable sense of excitement in the air.

Our team has been working tirelessly to ensure that this year's event is a tremendous success. However, our ultimate goal is that through every performance, tribute and award, God will be glorified. We look forward to celebrating the incredible talent within our gospel music community,” he said.

In addition to the musical performances, the BGMA will honour the late Vanessa Clarke with special tributes, recognising her significant contributions to Bahamian gospel music. The Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to the Tabernacle Concert Choir (TCC), celebrating their enduring impact and dedication to gospel music.

“We are deeply honoured to present a special tribute performance to the late Vanessa Clarke at this year's Bahamas Gospel Music Awards. Vanessa's contributions to the gospel

music industry have left an indelible mark on our hearts and our community. Her passion, talent and unwavering faith continue to inspire us all. Through this tribute, we aim to celebrate her remarkable legacy and ensure that her influence lives on in the gospel music of the Bahamas,” said Mr Edgecombe.

The BGMA award show, added will be “an evening where talent, faith and

community come together to celebrate the power of gospel music.” Tickets for the event are priced at $25 and are available for purchase at Tyreflex Star Motors on Wulff Road. Attendees are encouraged to dress in formal attire to match the grandeur of the occasion. For more information, contact at 813-8397 or email bahamasgospelmusicawards@gmail.com.

ANGLICAN Church Men (ACM) president and executives pay courtesy call on Governor General Cynthia Pratt on the eve of the 50th ACM golden juilee conference. Pictured are (l-r) Bryan Brown, ACM council chaplain; Clarence McKenzie, ACM council skill bank/website chair; ACM Council President Gevon Moss; Governor General Cynthia Pratt; Rev Dr Kari Marcelle, spiritual advisor to the ACM Council, and Erald Thompson, ACM council treasurer.

Christian educator and life coach Ricardo Clarke promotes financial literacy in young people

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net

Since its launch several years ago, the Occupy mentorship programme has been making quite a name for itself across the Bahamas.

Led by gospel artist and media personality Dr Ricardo Clarke, who is also a certified professional life coach with a doctorate in Christian Education, the Occupy mentorship programme focuses on character building and career development.

Dr Clarke started the programme in 2017. Since then, he said, it was impacted over 100 young people in the public school system.

He has served as a life coach with the National Training Agency and the Ministry of National Security, as well as with the Citizens Security and Justice Programme in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank.

Since 2012, he has been the voice of the morning show at JOY FM that has swept the nation with its inspirational and encouraging tone.

He became a licenced minister in 2005 and was ordained to the sacred gospel ministry in 2009.

Recently, the Occupy mentorship programme held its “Leadership and Financial Literacy Workshop”. This event brought together a distinguished panel of speakers to help equip the students of the IElite Academy with essential skills in leadership and

SWITCHING UP CHURCHES TO AVOID SPIRITUAL STAGNATION

By CARA HUNT Tribune Features Writer cbrennen@tribunemedia.net

FOR many people, being a part of a church that they attend regularly can be a big part of the foundation for their spirituality.

After all, there is something to be said about worshipping with people you consider family and being actively involved in the church’s growth week after week, month after month, year after year.

However, some would argue that it is also important to regularly visit other churches so that you don’t become stagnant in a particular format of worship, and that it is equally important to hear God’s word from different messengers.

“I grew up in the Catholic Church,” said Tribune Religion reader Brianna, “and there is a lot about mass that I like; I like the prayers and the hymns and the way the service is in and out and predictable, but I won’t lie, sometimes I just

like to mix it up and go to a church where the music is a lot more lively and the service is a bit more dynamic, and so I go to my Catholic church some weeks and I go to my aunt’s Baptist church some weeks, and it’s a great balance for me.”

Jesslyn and her husband also seek to find a balance between their two respective denominations: Catholic and Church of God.

“I am Church of God and my husband is Catholic, and so we really wanted to expose our children to both denominations. We want to attend church as a family. My church has a better worship experience, but his church has better church ministries like couples ministry and youth ministry, and that is how it works for us to just take the best of the two and make it work,” she said.

Jason noted that sometimes visiting other churches can provide the perspective you needs in your spiritual journey that

you can’t get from your own pastor.

“I had gone to my aunt’s church as part of her birthday celebrations and it just so happened that her pastor was starting this series on releasing the past and it just spelled things out for me; a lot of what I had been dealing with as a young man trying to do better and get closer to God. That one sermon just spoke to me and when I heard that he was making it a month-long series, I ditched my church and went there each week,” he said.

Nita agrees that a change of perspective is good for the Christian soul.

“No matter how good your pastor preaches or your choir sounds, it’s still the same voice preaching from his perspective and the same way of doing things. I try to go to a new church at least once a month because the Bible doesn’t change, but people say things in different ways and that is how you grow and not stay stagnant spiritually,” she said.

A look at Pope Francis’ comments about LGBTQ+ people

VATICAN CITY Associated Press

POPE Francis' apology

Tuesday for using a vulgar term to refer to gay men was the latest comment to make headlines about the Catholic Church's teachings on homosexuality.

Francis has made a hallmark of reaching out to LGBTQ+ Catholics, but his 11-year pontificate has also seen plenty of problems arise over his informal way of speaking and his outreach, evidence of how fraught the issue is for the church.

Officially, the Catholic Church teaches that homosexual people must be treated with dignity and respect, but that homosexual activity is “intrinsically disordered.” It also says that men who “practice homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies or support the so-called gay culture" cannot be ordained.

Here is a look at some of Francis' most noteworthy comments.

— July 30, 2013. During his first press conference, says “Who am I to judge?” when asked about a purportedly gay priest, signalling a more welcoming approach to LGBTQ+ Catholics.

— May 21, 2018: Tells a gay man “God made you like this and he loves you.”

— August 28, 2018: Vatican deletes from the official, online transcript of an in-flight press conference Francis' reference that young gay children might seek “psychiatric help.”

— November 2, 2020: Vatican clarifies pope's endorsement of legal protections for same-sex couples.

— January 24, 2023: Declares in an Associated Press interview that “ Being homosexual is not a crime.”

— January 28, 2023: Clarifies his comments to AP which implied that while homosexual activity was not a crime it is a sin in the eyes of the church. “When I

said it is a sin, I was simply referring to Catholic moral teaching, which says that every sexual act outside of marriage is a sin.”

— August 24, 2023: During World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, leads a crowd of a half-million young people chanting “todos, todos, todos” (everyone, everyone, everyone) to emphasize that all are welcome in the Catholic Church.

— October 21, 2023: Signs doctrine office document allowing transgender people to be baptized and serve as godparents.

— December 19, 2023: Approves blessings for same-sex couples provided they don’t resemble marriage, sparking fierce opposition from conservative bishops in Africa, Asia and elsewhere.

— March 25, 2024: Approves doctrinal document declaring genderaffirming surgery as a grave violation of human dignity, on par with abortion and euthanasia as practice that rejects God’s plan for life.

— May 20, 2024: Francis reportedly says “there is already an air of f*ggotness” in seminaries, in closed-door comments to Italian bishops in reaffirming the church's ban on gay priests. He later apologized for causing offense.

financial management, while also fostering personal and professional growth.

The event, Dr Clarke said, was designed to provide students with actionable insights and strategies to lead effectively and make informed

RICARDO Clarke brought his Occupy mentorship programme to the IElite Academy.

financial decisions. By focusing on leadership, mental health and financial literacy, the workshop aimed to create a comprehensive skill set for attendees.

The workshop featured speakers like Dr Tanya McCartney, financial services expert; Geron Sands, entrepreneur; Dr Novia Carter-Lookie, director of the National Drug Council of the Bahamas, and Dr Clarke himself. “We are pleased that students were empowered with the information and skills to make better choices. This workshop represents a crucial step in helping the students develop the capabilities necessary for success in today's challenging environment,” said Dr Clarke.

He said key topics covered during the workshop included: “The Importance of Discipline”, “Stress Management Strategies”,

“How Personal Leadership Affects Your Outcome in Life”, and more. Additionally, the students participated in practical and group exercises and shared their responses with each other. Dr Clarke said the Occupy mentorship programme is dedicated to making a positive impact in the community through a variety of initiatives. These include weekly school visits, private coaching sessions, partnerships with schools and businesses to provide training, and creating safe spaces for personal and professional development. The programme remains committed to providing valuable educational opportunities that prepare individuals to thrive in various aspects of their lives. For more information about future events and programmes, contact occupymentorshipprogram@ gmail.com.

POPE FRANCIS

DR. GREGGORY PINTODR. JOAQUIN MOLINAMR.

ANGLICAN CHURCH MEN CELEBRATE GOLDEN JUBILEE

TONIGHT, the Anglican Church Men (ACM) will attend the opening service of their historic 50th Conference and annual Meeting.

The service begins at 7pm at Christ Church Cathedral, the host parish for this milestone event.

ACM Council President

Gevon Moss said: “It is with great joy and gratitude that I extend a warm welcome to all attendees of the 50th Conference and Annual Meeting of the Anglican Church Men. As we come together to celebrate this golden milestone, we reflect on the journey that has brought us to this moment.

The 50th Conference theme, ‘Brotherhood rooted in

faith, soaring in service’ is a wonderful reminder of our mandate.”

Conference speakers include Rev Dr Joaquin G Molina, Rev Dr Ranford Patterson, Rev Dr Kari Marcelle, Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander, and urologist Dr Greggory Pinto.

“Over the past five decades, the Anglican Church Men have been dedicated to serving our community, fostering fellowship, and nurturing spiritual growth among men from the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Our annual conference is a testament to the bonds of brotherhood that unite us and the

shared commitment to living out our faith in service to others,” said Mr Moss.

“This year's conference holds a special significance as we commemorate our 50th anniversary. It is a time to honour our history, celebrate our achievements, and look forward to the future with hope and renewed purpose. As we gather in fellowship and worship, may we be inspired by the teachings of Christ to continue our mission of love, compassion, and service to all.

“I extend my deepest gratitude to all those who have supported the Anglican Church Men over the years, from our dedicated members to our generous

sponsors and partners. Your contributions have been instrumental in enabling us to carry out our mission and make a positive impact in the lives of others. I especially applaud the men who have led the conference over these five decades, and thank in advance those who have sacrificed to make the 50th Conference a major success.”

Mr Moss encourages all participants to engage fully in the conference activities, workshops and discussions, “as we seek to deepen our faith, learn from one another, and strengthen our bond as a community of believers.”

“May this conference be a time of inspiration, renewal and spiritual growth,” he said. On Saturday, June 1, the delegation will travel to Harbour Island to the parish of St John’s where the rector is Fr Bryton Ward.

“There, the men will engage in several outreach and community service projects,” said Mr Moss.

Conference Co-Chair

Kenric Major said: “We extend warm greetings to all of you as we celebrate this milestone, our golden jubilee conference, and we pray God’s riches blessing upon you and your families. For 50 years, Anglican Church Men have gathered across the length and breadth of the Diocese of the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands to engage in workshops, seminars and do official business of the ACM. The organisation remains solvent, vibrant and strong, and in recent years we have experienced tremendous growth, especially with younger men joining our organisation. A special thank you to the other co-chairman, Gregory Sherman, and the ACM branch of the Parish of St Matthew’s, Nassau, Bahamas.” The conference’s closing service will be held at 9am on Sunday, June 2, at Christ Church Cathedral.

Bahamas Public Prayer Ministry honours man who helped launch their organisation

THE Bahamas Public Prayer Ministry, on the occasion of its 10th anniversary, is recognising and honouring the man who helped to get the ball rolling by providing the initial donation to the ministry in addition to his counsel.

It was 10 years ago, on May 12, 2014, when Dr David Franklyn Allen,

CEO of the Discovery Clinic, upon leaving the Cabinet office in the Churchill Building and crossing Rawson Square, saw Pastor Dr Wilfred T Adderley, Sr, standing alone singing and about to pray.

He asked Dr Adderley, "What are you doing?"

Dr Adderley explained that the Lord had given him a vision the week prior, on May 6, 2014, to gather praying people in Rawson Square and pray for the healing of the Bahamas. In response, Dr Allen told Dr Adderley he believed him, because the Cabinet meeting which he had just left had given him

clear indications that "this country needs God."

Dr Allen then gave Dr Adderley a small donation to help him to launch his new prayer ministry, and told him: “Do not stop this prayer ministry. But keep on praying."

He also told Dr Adderley to get in touch with Minister Judith Blair of Bahamas Faith Ministries, leader of the ‘Prayer in the Square’ ministry, because she had also had a vision from the Lord to go to the Prime Minister and call for a national day of prayer.

Now, a decade on, the Bahamas Public Prayer Ministry, presented their first award to Dr Allen on Sunday, May 12, at the New Providence Community Church on Blake Road and John F Kennedy Drive.

Pastor Dr Adderley, CEO of the Bahamas Public Prayer Ministry, presented the plaque after Steffi Larrimore, secretary for BPPM, read the citation: "On the occasion of our 10th anniversary we proudly present this award to Dr David Franklyn Allen for his initial donation, prayers and counsel to associate with Minister Judith Blair of Prayer in the Square Ministry."

Dr Adderley credits Dr Allen with giving him two significant ministry action goals:

1. Community services for the poor. The small donation was used to feed four hungry men that day who frequently hang out in Rawson Square begging alms.

From this small beginning, Dr Adderley estimated that his small prayer team along with other prayer partners and donor organisations have donated more than $20,000 to the poor and people in need through his prayer ministry.

2. By associating with other churches and prayer groups, the Bahamas Public Prayer Ministry framed their mission statement: "In association with all Christian churches."

In the week of May 12 to May 19, 2024, there were nightly prayer services conducted by associate churches and prayer groups under the yheme: "Preparing for the Lord's Return”, taken from Matthew 25:31-40.

The Bahamas Public Prayer Ministry continues to invite churches and prayer groups to lead prayer services in Rawson Square for the healing of the nation.

PASTOR Dr Wilfred T Adderley, CEO of the Bahamas Public Prayer Ministry, presents Dr David Franklyn Allen, CEO of the Discovery Clinic, with a plaque recognising his contributions, as secretary Steffi Larrimore looks on.

TWININGS TEAS TEAMS UP TO SERVE UP A TASTY TREAT

HORIZON Distributors, the official Bahamian distributor for Twinings Teas, teamed up with Super Value to host a series of pop-ups from April to May allowing customers to sample classic and novel Twinings Tea flavours including Earl Grey, English Breakfast, Orange Mango Cinnamon and Vanilla Chamomile.

More than 100 tea lovers took part in a contest and lucky mom Jeffette Ingraham came out victorious thanks to her husband who nominated her for the prize.

She was treated to the ultimate tea prize bundle which included an official Twinings wooden tea box, an assortment of Twinings Teas, a gift card to the Bamford Spa at the Island House, a bottle of wine and a box of

treats from Bakehouse.

Mrs Ingraham said: “This is an excellent surprise! I’ve never won anything like this so I didn’t expect to win.”

She went on to note that her daughter Charlotte was the real tea aficionado in their family. “I know my daughter will love this tea box because she loves Twinings Tea!”

The family stopped by the Horizon Distributors Head office in Air-port Industrial Park to collect her prize winnings from general manager Alvan Rampersaud. For more information on Twinings Tea and other brands sold by Horizon Distributors, visit www.horizondistributorsbahamas.com or call 242-603-3279.

From Barbados to the Bahamas police, a career in service

KEITH Mason Sr, who at the age of 21 moved from his native Barbados to The Bahamas to become a police officer in 1955, has penned his memoirs.

Mr Mason moved from his home country in response to an appeal by the government of the day to engage young men from Caribbean Islands who were willing to serve as officers on the (then) Bahamas Police Force.

He went on to become a Deputy Commissioner of Police.

His new book, “Born To Lead – The Journey of a Lifetime”, chronicles his career, beginning as a recruit from Barbados, rising to the highest rank in the Royal Bahamas Police Force ever attained by an officer from a West Indian country outside of The Bahamas.

The book portrays all aspects of Mr Mason’s life, from very humble beginnings to a position of influence, and a

KEITH MASON SR, OD, MBE, LVO, QPM.

manifestation of two prophetic proclamations over his life, one being from his mother and the other from a villager who saw his gait and carriage and instantly knew that he was “cut out” to be a part of the law enforcement profession.

Mr Mason, OD, MBE, LVO, QPM, details the life lessons instilled in him as a child and his thirst for knowledge; his vision and goals for himself, along with the manifestation of the

prayers and encouragement of persons who came along at strategic points in his life.

Being raised in Barbados, his religious foundation was in the Anglican form of worship but since moving to The Bahamas he has become firmly rooted and grounded in the Seventhday Adventist Church.

Outside of his faith, family and career, Mr Mason is probably happiest when he is in his backyard farm where he communes with God through his crops and limited livestock and is reminded constantly of the balance that must be maintained by the custodians of the planet whom God has left to tend His creation.

Now as a nonagenarian, he celebrated his 90th birthday on February 5 this year, Mr Mason Sr, is pleased that he was finally able to document the path that has brought him to this point and is relieved that the biggest objective at this stage of his life has been achieved.

MARINE FORECAST